Who Was Amar Singh Chamkila? Mystery Behind The Murder Of Punjab’s Rising Star

The Rise and Fall of Amar Singh Chamkila: A Punjabi Music Legend

Imtiaz Ali, a famous Indian filmmaker known for his captivating stories, is bringing a new movie about the life of a legendary Punjabi singer, Amar Singh Chamkila. The movie will be available on Netflix starting April 12th. Diljit Dosanjh will play Chamkila, and Parineeti Chopra will play his wife, Amarjot.

Chamkila was a rising star in Punjab. He was known for his energetic way of speaking, his powerful singing voice, and his unique music that featured the beautiful sounds of the Tumbi instrument. Sadly, Chamkila and Amarjot were both shot and killed at the young age of 27. This event had a huge impact on the state of Punjab and all of India.

Who Was Amar Singh Chamkila?

Born Dhanni Ram on July 21, 1960, Chamkila came from a Sikh family in the Dalit community. He lived in the village of Dugri, near Ludhiana, India. Though he wanted to be an electrician, he couldn’t make that dream come true. Instead, he ended up working in a cloth mill.

A Tragic End

On March 8, 1988, Chamkila and Amarjot were on their way to a performance in Mehsampur, Punjab. It was a terrible day. As they got out of their car, a group of people on motorcycles ambushed them and shot them both, along with others who were with them. The police investigated the crime, but no one was ever arrested. The reason for the killings remains a mystery.

Why Was Chamkila Killed?

Some people believe that Sikh militants might have been responsible for the attack. However, Chamkila’s close friend and songwriter, Swarn Sivia, disagreed. Sivia did his own investigation and never stopped searching for answers about Chamkila’s death. He even met with militants to apologize and promised to change the themes of Chamkila’s songs. Because of this, Chamkila started performing more traditional songs about Sikh history. Despite his efforts, Sivia never found out who killed Chamkila.

Controversy Surrounds Chamkila

Chamkila’s music was popular, but it was also controversial. His albums were sold without any warnings about the adult themes and sexual content in the lyrics. These songs were often played at outdoor shows where children were present. Many of Chamkila’s songs dealt with drinking and inappropriate behavior towards women.

Here are some examples of Chamkila’s controversial songs:

• “Jija Lakk Minle” talks about cheating on a wife with her sister.
• “Gora Gora Rang Jatta Akh Mastani” describes inappropriate behavior towards a young girl.
• “Pekeyan De Ghar Mein Changi” tells a story about domestic violence and a wife being taken advantage of.
• “Pehle Lalkare Naal” talks about the problems of drinking and how it can lead to violence at home.
• “Patua Pattan Nu Phirda” is another song with inappropriate themes about young girls.

Even though his music was controversial, Chamkila’s albums were very popular. People loved his use of Punjabi expressions, his unique music style, and the beautiful sound of the Tumbi.

A Complicated Personal Life

Chamkila’s personal life was also complicated. He married Amarjot even though he wasn’t legally divorced from his first wife, which is against the law in India. There are reports that both wives knew about the situation and accepted it. However, Chamkila was known to be abusive towards Amarjot, and she would even use makeup to hide bruises before performances.

The life of Amar Singh Chamkila was full of music, fame, controversy, and tragedy. His story continues to be of interest, and the new movie will likely introduce him to a whole new audience.