iWorld
Achha Chalta Hoon: How Arijit Singh’s quiet goodbye broke the internet
MUMBAI: The news didn’t come via a grand press conference or a glitzy televised special. In true Arijit fashion, low key and deeply personal, the announcement arrived as a quiet series of social media posts on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
“I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on,” he wrote. “I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey.”
Just like that, the man who soundtracked every monsoon drive, every first love, and every 2 AM heartbreak for over a decade decided he had sung his last note for the silver screen.
Why now? The search for the small artist
For fans, the timing feels impossible. Arijit is currently at his commercial and critical peak. So, why walk away? The singer was refreshingly candid about his reasons:
• Creative burnout: Arijit admitted that he simply “got bored” with the repetitive nature of playback singing. He confessed to changing song arrangements during live shows just to keep himself interested.
• The small artist dream: He expressed a deep desire to shed the “brand” of being a superstar and return to being a “small little artist.” He wants to go back to his roots, Hindustani Classical Music.
• Courage to change: “Finally, I have gathered the right courage,” he shared. He isn’t quitting music; he’s quitting the industry to rediscover the joy of making music without the pressure of a box office hit.
The Industry in shock: A chorus of tributes
The reaction from legends, peers, and major brands was instantaneous and emotional, reflecting a sense of collective heartbreak across the nation.
MS Dhoni shared a rare, moving tribute, writing: End of an era, but your voice will live forever in our hearts. Thank you for every emotion, every song, every memory. Legend always.
Badshah simply called him “Sadiyon mein ek” (One in centuries).
Amaal Mallik noted that film music would never be the same, comparing the exit to a legend walking into the sunset without asking for a standing ovation.
Shreya Ghoshal supported his move, writing that it was “time to soar higher” and that an artist of his genius cannot be boxed into a set formula.
Even the brands that soundtrack our lives joined the mourning. Saregama posted: When you said “vida karo”, this isn’t what we were expecting. Balaji Wafers added a touch of modern grief, stating: Channa Mereya just got too real, he ate and left no crumbs.
Zepto posted, “Who is cutting onions?”, while JioSaavn noted, “Pal bhar thahre jao just became a little heavier.” YouTube India promised he would “always remain in our playlist.”
Fans have flooded the internet with the lyrics of “Channa Mereya,” the song that has now become the unofficial anthem of his departure.
What’s Next? (The silver lining)
Before you delete your streaming apps in despair, there is a glimmer of hope. Arijit clarified that he isn’t disappearing entirely:
• Pending projects: He will finish his current commitments. Fans can still look forward to his final playback releases throughout 2026, including songs in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo and the patriotic track “Maatrubhumi” from Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan.
• Independent music: He plans to release his own music on his own terms. We are likely moving away from “Arijit the Playback Singer” and toward “Arijit the Independent Composer.”
• Classical exploration: He intends to dedicate his time to learning and performing Indian Classical Music, a lifelong passion that the busy schedule of Bollywood rarely allowed him to pursue.
The bottom line
Arijit Singh’s retirement marks the end of an era. He didn’t just sing songs; he curated the feelings of a billion people. By walking away now, he ensures his legacy remains untarnished, leaving us all wanting more, which is perhaps the greatest gift an artist can give.
He may be leaving the playback booth, but as long as it rains and as long as hearts break, his voice will never truly be gone.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
