Amar Singh Chamkila on the way
Imtiaz Ali’s new Netflix production has taken internet by storm. Set in Punjab of 1980’s Amar Singh Chamkila narrates the real-life story of Dhanni Ram. A daily wage labourer’s humble journey to becoming a renowned musical legend. The film has been produced by Select Media Holdings LLP, Mohit Choudhary, Saregama & Window Seat Films and is Scheduled for a cinematic release on OTT platform Netflix, on 12th April.
Starring actor/singer Diljit Dosanjh as Amar Singh Chamkila & Parineeti Chopra as Amarjot Kaur, the trailer has already taken over the heart and minds of many netizens. Many viewers applauded Imtiaz Ali’s decision to cast Diljit Dosanjh as Amar Singh Chamkila, as the actor does a fantastic job in portrayal of the esteemed singer. Capturing the essence of 1980’s Punjab, complete with the dangerous societal sentiments prevalent in Punjab’s society at the time. Two of the songs namely “Ishq Mitaye” & “Naram Kaalija” composed and sung by AR Rahman and Mohit Chauhan have audiences grooving already, outlining the sheer entertainment potential of the film.
On the topic of why the biopic was made in Hindi, despite being the story of a renowned Punjabi folk singer, Imtiaz Ali said,” So, it’s a new thing and I feel that there is a certain reach and the point of making Chamkila for me, I am a Hindi film director but making Chamkila in Hindi I thought was necessary because Chamkila is a very big subject and I think it’s a universal subject. So, I wanted people who are not from Punjab should also see it and enjoy it. People perhaps that are not from this country and don’t even speak these native languages should be able to enjoy it”.
Speaking to reporters, Ali shared that he had doubt’s about whether Diljit Dosanjh will be able to capture the essence of Chamkila, occasionally thinking he “might not be able to do it”. He also said that upon meeting the actor, his perspective transformed, “So I didn’t approach him in the beginning, but it’s a little later that I did, the moment I spoke to him, it was just like a different chapter, and now it’s a sure shot thing, and now I really can’t imagine anybody else doing it”.
History of Amar Singh Chamkila
Born in a Dalit family on 21 July, 1960, Chamkila’s birth name was Dhanni Ram. Born in Durgi village of Ludhiana, Punjab, Dhanni Ram’s love for music shined bright from an early age. Enabling him to master musical instruments like harmonium and tumbi (a single string instrument associated with folk music of Punjab) at a young age of 16.
Even while working, Dhanni Ram pursued his musical aspirations, associating closely with renowned folk singer Surinder Shinda, over time evolving into a talented song-writer. When Shinda left on a solo singing tour to Canada in early 1980’s, four songs recorded with Shinda’s duet partner Sonia in the early 1980s transformed Dhanni Ram into Amar Singh Chamkila.
Chamkila & Sonia’s combined proficiency and aptitude for singing enabled them to win the hearts of the audiences, increasing their public acceptability. Despite being well-known Amar Singh and Sonia parted ways over compensation disputes. Soon after Chamkila met Amarjot Kaur, who became both his singing partner, as well as life partner a few years later.
Their original compositions, often featuring double entendre lyrics addressing societal issues (alcoholism, sexual violence, women objectification etc), resonated deeply with Punjabi audiences. His quick rise to fame was an eyesore for many Punjabi singers of his time, combined with mounting objections from pro-Khalistani organizations about the vulgarity in his songs.
Amar Singh Chamkila and his second wife Amarjot were assassinated on 8th march 1988 near Mahismampur village in Jalandhar district’s Phillaur tehsil, while they were enroute to sing at a function. Chamkila died an untimely death at the age of just 27 years. His murder remains unresolved despite unverified reports of a militant attack.
