Imtiaz Ali gave the audience Love Aaj Kal in 202o and decided to take a long hiatus from directing films. For four years, fans kept anticipating what the director was doing next. Much to their surprise, Imtiaz announced his next movie with Diljit Dosanjh titled Amar Singh Chamkila. This 2024 release became a hot topic of discussion, not only for its cast but also for the topic that they chose for the film. Arriving on Netflix this week, Amar Singh Chamkila narrates the story of a legendary Punjabi singer who created waves with his iconic music.
Apart from Diljit Dosanjh, the film also stars Parineeti Chopra as the female lead. The duo has sung a total of 15 songs for the Netflix movie which follows the journey of Punjab’s rockstar, Amar Singh Chamkila, and how he was assassinated at a young age. The movie marks Dosanjh and Chopra’s first project with Imtiaz Ali. The music of the film is composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics written by Irshad Kamil. Amar Singh Chamkila will arrive on Netflix on 12 April and here is a bit of information about who the singer was and what made him so iconic.
The inspiring journey of Amar Singh Chamkila as narrated by Imtiaz Ali
Diljit Dosanjh will essay the titular role of Amar Singh Chamkila in the film and Parineeti Chopra will play the role of Chamkila’s second wife, Amarjot Kaur. Talking about the movie, Imtiaz Ali termed the shooting for Amar Singh Chamkila as ‘a unique journey.’ The director quipped, “It felt like a very different experience as a filmmaker. The film follows the crazed popularity of Chamkila’s daring songs that society could neither ignore nor swallow. It helped me reconnect with a different side of myself.”
Meet Amar Singh Chamkila
Amar Singh Chamkila is considered to be one of the most influential Punjabi artists and live-stage performers. His use of explicit language, high-pitched vocals, and novel compositions synced with masterful Tumbi made him famous amongst locals. He drew influence from the Punjabi village life he was surrounded with while growing up and wrote songs like Pehle Lalkare Naal, Baba Tera Nankana, Tar Gayi Ravidas Di Pathri and Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di. His first-ever recorded album titled Takue Te Takua gave him immense popularity.
Early life of Amar Singh Chamkila
The Netflix movie will share a glimpse of the early life of Amar Singh Chamkila. The singer was born in 1960 in the village of Dugri near Ludhiana, Punjab. His parent gave him the name Dhanni Ram. He aspired to become an electrician, but could not fulfil his dream because of several reasons. He then found work at a Ludhiana cloth mill. However, Chamkila always had a natural aptitude for music.
His musical journey to success
Diljit Dosanjh is the perfect pick for the Netflix movie as he is a popular singer just like Amar Singh Chamkila was in his time. The veteran singer was always inclined towards music which encouraged him to learn how to play the harmonium and dholki. Once he gathered the knowledge, he approached Surinder Shinda for the first time in 1979. Chamkila along with his best friend Kuldeep Paras chased the grandfather of MOC on a bicycle. Shinda heard the 18-year-old Chamkila sing and decided that he had finally found his protege. Chamkila went on to work with Punjabi folk artists such as K. Deep, Mohammad Sadiq and Shinda. He even wrote multiple songs for Shinda and tagged along with him as a member of his entourage.
The beginning of his solo career
Soon after his stint with Shinda, Chamkila decided to pursue a solo career. He adopted the stage name Amar Singh Chamkila and partnered up with Surinder Sonia, the female vocalist who had previously worked with Surinder Shinda. She left the entourage after Shinda took Gulshan Komal to a tour in Canada. She was the person who pushed the iconic singer to record his debut album. The duo sang eight duets and released the album Takue Te Takua in 1980. The witty lyrics which he had written himself, became popular across Punjab.
With the growing popularity, the singer realised that he was being underpaid by Surinder Sonia’s manager, her husband. He formed his group and established a short-lived stage partnership with Miss Usha Kiran, Amar Noorie and others. Chamkila slowly and steadily gained popularity for his boyish yet suggestive lyrics. He wrote the lyrics which were commentaries on extramarital affairs, alcohol and drug use. He then met Amarjot Kaur and the couple became the talk of the town. Their appeal evolved not only in Punjab, but they quickly witnessed international stardom through Punjabis living abroad. Chamkila was rumoured to have accepted more bookings than his contemporaries and had performed 366 shows in 365 days at a time.
Who killed Amar Singh Chamkila?
The couple arrived to perform in Mehsampur, Punjab on 8 March 1988, where both Chamkila and Amarjot were gunned down. As they exited their vehicle, a gang of motorcyclists fired several rounds, killing the couple and other members of the entourage. The incident took place at approximately 02:00 pm. Surprisingly, no arrests were ever made in connection to the shooting, but it is probed that Sikh militants were responsible for the tragic death of Amar Singh Chamkila. However, his close friend and lyricist, Swarn Sivia, suggested that this was not the case as they had met the militants to apologise and vowed to change the themes of his songs. The case remains unsolved till date.
The legacy that carries forward
Chamkila is often referred to as the Elvis of Punjab. Before the Netflix movie starring Diljit Dosanjh, a 2018 Indian mockumentary film titled Mesampur talked about the life of Amar Singh Chamkila. Jodi was a 2023 Punjabi-language film, which was again inspired by the life of Chamkila.
Hero and Feature Images: Courtesy IMDb
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Where can I watch Amar Singh Chamkila?
You can watch the Amar Singh Chamkila movie on Netflix.
– When will Amar Singh Chamkila release on Netflix?
The movie is scheduled to release on 12 April 2024.
– What is the story of the Chamkila movie?
The story follows the life of legendary Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila.
– In which village was Chamkila killed?
He was killed in Mehsampur.
