Starring: Diljit Dosanjh, Parineeti Chopra, Anurag Arora, Apinderdeep Singh, Anjum Batra, Anurag Arora, Gurteg Guri
Director: Imtiaz Ali
This biopic documenting the life of the so-called “Elvis of Punjab”, streaming on Netflix now, was long overdue – given how little is known about this hugely popular Punjabi singer-songwriter, who divided opinion with his inimitable shock and awe style.
Amar Singh (Dosanjh) grows up in a small hamlet of Punjab where the earthy beats of the farmland inspire him to create his own poetry, which he begins weaving into catchy bhangra beats. With sheer grit and determination, he pushes his way through to join the band of a popular local singer who readily adopts his lyrics to gain further popularity.
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During one such akhada (village performance), to calm an increasingly restless gathering, Amar Singh is pushed onto the stage with a miscommunication leading to his stage name being announced as Chamkila – which translates as the shiny one. So far a behind the scenes writer, Chamkila wins over the hearts of the audience, who cannot get enough of his lurid but very honest musical notes. It leads to him seeking out the perfect tonal companion who can match his high notes for his duets and in walks Amarjot Kaur (Chopra), who goes on to become his partner in music and life.
But just as the duo’s popularity is soaring and their records are fast selling out, there is a growing tide against what some sections of the conservative Sikh society perceive as vulgarity. An initially perplexed and fearful Chamkila attempts to move away towards more devotional music, but when his fans demand more of his original style, he feels compelled to give in. The result of which proves disastrous.
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Diljit Dosanjh, an award-winning singer in his own right, is the perfect choice to take on this real-life stalwart of Punjab. The director’s documentary approach towards this biopic also pays off, as the archival shots reflecting Chamkila’s immense popularity work well.
There are times when the film’s indulgence to dive deep into the earthy tunes of the time does seem to drag on. But on the whole, it’s a worthy attempt at capturing a short but complex life – the musical echoes of which continue to resonate to this day.