Singer Arijit Singh’s decision to step away from playback singing has sent shockwaves through the music industry and deeply moved his fans. On January 27, Arijit announced that he would no longer sing for films, sparking widespread discussion on social media. Several celebrities, including Manoj Muntashir, Badshah, and Amaal Mallik, reacted emotionally to the news. Now, singer Sona Mohapatra has shared her strong and outspoken views on the matter, openly supporting Arijit’s decision.

Sona Mohapatra took to Instagram with a detailed note, describing Arijit’s move as a step towards freedom and self-determination. She said that choosing to step back from playback singing can mark the beginning of a new journey filled with creative possibilities. While she avoided speculating about the exact reasons behind Arijit’s decision, she emphasized that such a choice is deeply personal and completely valid. According to her, the most important aspect of this decision is the power of choice, something artists in the past could scarcely imagine.

She further added that stepping away from the system could allow artists to rediscover themselves, create their own music, and sing on their own terms. Sona also pointed out that Arijit’s exit might unintentionally create opportunities for new voices who often remain confined to singing demos and are rarely given a chance to perform the final songs.

Questioning the emotional reactions surrounding Arijit’s announcement, Sona wrote that people were treating the news like a condolence message. She stressed that Arijit is not disappearing but continuing to make music in a different way. She questioned why the industry and audiences fear variety and experimentation, and why they seem comfortable with repetition instead of embracing diverse voices and sounds.

Sona Mohapatra also used her post to highlight the exploitative practices within the music industry. She stated that the industry functions on a zero-risk formula, repeatedly relying on the same voices. According to her, demo singers are often not paid at all, while even established singers with decades of experience are sometimes denied fair payment under the guise of future opportunities. She added that music directors are also pressured in this system, forced to test multiple voices repeatedly before eventually settling on a familiar name, perpetuating a cycle of convenience rather than fairness.