Arijit returns to stage with Anoushka Shankar days after quitting playback | Entertainment News
Just days after announcing his decision to step away from Bollywood singing, Arijit Singh surprised fans by returning to the stage – not in a film studio, but at a live concert in Kolkata. The singer joined Anoushka Shankar during her performance, marking his first public appearance since the January 27 announcement.
What unfolded was much more than a guest act. As Arijit and Anoushka shared the stage, the moment became a meeting of musical lineages, emotional intention and artistic conviction. It was intimate, symbolic and quietly provocative – a reminder of music beyond commerce.
The collaboration gained gravity with the presence of famous percussionist Bickram Ghosh. Together they performed Maya Bhora Raati, a rarely heard Bengali composition deeply rooted in the classical tradition. The piece, long associated with the legacy of Pandit Ravi Shankar, transformed the concert into a moment of cultural memory rather than a spectacle.
Anoushka Shankar welcomed Arijit Singh?
Sitar maestro Anoushka Shankar surprised the packed Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata last night by inviting Arijit Singh to come on stage as a special guest for the evening. Arijit and Anoushka sang a version of Maya Bhora Raati, a Bengali song written by Pandit Ravi Shankar and originally sung by Lakshmi Shankar, throughout the concert.
Along with a video shared from the concert, Anoushka mentioned, “There is so much more to say later, but for now, sweetheart!!!! Hearing the one and only @arijitsingh bring my father’s rarely heard Bengali song to life, and then sharing our new music with Kolkata, was truly an unforgettable moment.”
About Arijit Singh and Anoushka Shankar’s live concert
One of India’s most prominent playback singers, Arijit Singh, is renowned for his knowledge of classical and semi-classical music. In addition to being a global ambassador for Indian classical music, Anoushka Shankar is a composer and sitar virtuoso.
She is also the daughter and student of Pandit Ravi Shankar, the mastermind who revolutionized the way Indian music communicated with the outside world. The crowd in Calcutta described their collaboration as both astonishing and inevitable.
Arijit Singh’s performance of Maya Bhora Raati at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta solidified his reputation as a musician deeply aware of India’s literary and classical traditions, going beyond his status as a playback star.
Maya Bhora Raati and the Ravi Shankar connection?
At the heart of the collaboration was Maya Bhora Raati, a rarely performed Bengali gem. The timeless composition was created by legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and was originally performed by Lakshmi Shankar, his sister-in-law. Deeply rooted in the Hindustani classical tradition, the piece is known for its meditative structure and close association with the sitar. The lyrics were written by another devotee, Shyamal Gupta. The composition demands a rare balance between nuanced classical improvisation and lyrical restraint – a balance that Ravi Shankar has crafted with quiet mastery.
Internet users react to the duo’s live concert
Soon after, social media users were left in awe of Arijit’s talent as videos from the event went viral. One such fan wrote, “What a soulful singer he is!!! Once in a generation!!,” while another said, “Arijit Singh says, ‘Enough for Bollywood, now just for the roots.'” One netizen said, “That’s it, Arijit…pure talent,” while one comment said, “He shines differently as an individual artiste.” Meanwhile, a netizen also said, “And he is now showing his full potential. What a talent.”
