I was eagerly waiting for the release of “Chamkila,” a film about the “Elvis of Punjab directed by every broken hearted person’s favorite director, Imtiaz Ali.
So, cutting to the chase, who was Amar Singh Chamkila?
Chamkila was a Dalit singer who gained fame not only for his divine voice but also for his provocative lyrics during a particularly tumultuous period in post-partition Punjab.
He paid a steep price for his music.
Born and raised in poverty, he keenly observed the world around him—domestic violence, extramarital affairs, and substance abuse—and his songs reflected these realities. One of the main criticisms against him was that he was corrupting society.
Tragically, he was only 27 and at the height of his career when he was brutally shot, along with his wife and two bandmates, by unknown assailants while en route to perform at a live show (akhada).
What impressed me about the film was its engaging storytelling . It begins with a shocking depiction of the brutal killings and then opens to the extraordinary life of Amar Singh. Adopting a combination of live action, graphic novel style montages and archival footage, the movie takes you back to the 1980’s Punjab- a world of Grit and Glamour, Kitsch and Kharkus dipped in sepia.
He earned the name “Chamkila” while filling in for the more popular singer, Surinder Shinda. The name suited him perfectly. Initially a lyricist for Shinda, his outstanding performance at an akhada gave him the confidence to pursue singing full-time. He quickly became a household name after the release of his first album, and his fame continued to grow exponentially.
He outperformed his contemporaries in both album sales and live performances, as audiences loved his songs. However, this popularity may have played a part in his tragic end.
Embittered, his rivals formed alliances, and some believe they were responsible for his death. Meanwhile, the separatist movement in Punjab was also gaining momentum, fueled by a rigid form of religious extremism. His songs, filled with double entendres and sexual innuendos, drew the ire of various separatist groups.
Although initially fearful, he eventually ignored their threats to satisfy his audience’s demands. Perhaps he realized he could not appease his growing list of adversaries.
The film has brought Chamkila to the national stage. While he was beloved in Punjab, his name remained relatively unknown in the rest of India. I’m grateful to the makers of “Chamkila” for introducing us to him.
The juxtaposition of archival footage of Chamkila and Amarjyot in the film made him even more endearing. Both lit up the stage with their raw and authentic chemistry, brilliantly portrayed by Parineeti and Diljit.
The musical trio of A.R. Rahman, Irshad Kamil, and Mohit Chauhan has once again left an indelible mark on Chamkila’s legacy. I’m certain he would be enjoying the songs from above. 🙂 I have been drifting between Chamkila’s songs and the movie’s OST.
I’ve read some thoughtful critiques of the film, highlighting the lack of sufficient screen time focusing on the caste bias Chamkila faced, which was a primary reason for the vehement opposition against him. His inter-caste marriage to his duet partner Amarjot was also controversial, given she was his second wife and from an upper caste.
His rising fame was unpalatable to his upper-caste competitors, and his murder was seen as a tool to perpetuate caste oppression.
However, I believe Imtiaz did a commendable job depicting the socio-cultural context of Chamkila’s life. The scene where he faces a disciplinary meeting called by village chiefs after his second wedding shows how he was beloved by his community, largely comprising landless farmers with little security, he was their protector and their hero- a beacon of pride and hope.
Of course, a two-hour movie can never fully encapsulate two and a half decades of someone’s life, but the film deeply resonates, making us care about the slain star and the struggles of the oppressed—and that’s a promising start.
Next, I am going to watch Mehsampur and Jodi-both about the singer.
Have you watched Chamkila on Netflix?
Fingers in symphony 