Gima Award For Best Male Playback Singer -

— The Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) Awards had always been a spectacle of choreographed glamour. But on its 12th edition night, held at the DY Patil Stadium, the category for Best Male Playback Singer turned into a battlefield of generations.

Both Arijit Singh and Mohit Chauhan have secured multiple wins, reflecting their dominance during the peak years of the GiMA awards.

Since its inception, several iconic voices have dominated this category: Song Title Papon "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" Dum Laga Ke Haisha 2015 Arijit Singh "Muskurane" CityLights 2014 Arijit Singh "Tum Hi Ho" Aashiqui 2 2012 Mohit Chauhan , A. R. Rahman & Javed Ali "Kun Faya Kun" & "Nadaan Parinde" Rockstar 2011 Mohit Chauhan "Pee Loon" Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2010 Shaan "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" 3 Idiots gima award for best male playback singer

The GIMA Award for Best Male Playback Singer serves as a historical record of the shifting paradigms in Indian music. From the Sufi depths of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to the indie-folk roots of Ayushmann Khurrana and the balladic dominance of Arijit Singh, the award highlights the industry's transition toward a more versatile and emotionally nuanced soundscape. While the physical ceremony has seen fluctuations in frequency in recent years, the legacy of the winners confirms that the definition of the "Best" male voice in India is no longer tied solely to classical training, but to the ability to convey authentic emotion and connect with the zeitgeist of a new generation.

“And the GIMA goes to… for ‘Mitti Ka Gana’ from Rivers of Salt .” — The Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) Awards

Unlike other popular awards that are largely driven by fan votes, the GiMA Awards were designed to be "by the industry, for the industry". Winning this trophy signifies a high level of technical proficiency and artistic respect from fellow musicians and technicians.

The GIMA Awards were conceptualized to honor artistic achievement, technical excellence, and popular success. The judging process combined a jury of industry experts with public voting, aiming to balance artistic integrity with commercial viability. Since its inception, several iconic voices have dominated

The evolution of winners from the booming voices of the 90s (represented by nominees like Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan) to the softer, more vulnerable voices of the 2010s (Arijit Singh, Papon) reflects a change in the cinematic depiction of masculinity. The "Hero" was no longer just a fighter or a dancer; he was an emotional everyman, and the GIMA winners provided the voice for this vulnerability.