What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s latest Indian original movie ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ is a biopic of sorts of the slain Punjabi singer-musician Amar Singh Chamkila. The narrative documents the meteoric rags-to-riches rise of the iconic Punjabi singer, the times he lived in and its influence on his music, and finally, his cold-blooded assassination.
Amar Singh Chamkila is written and directed by Imtiaz Ali, and co-written by Sajid Ali.
Performances?
Diljit Dosanjh breathes life into the complex character that was the real-life Chamkila. His perceptive performance, coupled with his quietly attractive charm, lend credence to his portrayal of the “Elvis of Punjab”. Be it as the diffident 18-year-old boy just coming into his own, or as the defiant icon, who cocks a snook at naysayers, Diljit Dosanjh is superb in every shade of Chamkila he showcases. In other words, he not just essays the legend, he becomes him.
Parineeti Chopra is efficient as Chamkila’s wife Amarjot, though not as effective. Anjum Batra is superb as Chamkila’s mentor cum manager, Tikki Paaji. The acting from the rest of the cast is above par too, with each actor having put in their best.
Analysis
Circa 1988. Militancy is at its peak in Punjab, and the mood is one of despondency. The same year, Amar Singh Chamkila, a young 27-year-old singing sensation risen from the Punjabi heartlands, is shot dead in a well-planned and executed murder. The musical world is aghast. Newspaper headlines in Punjab scream nothing else; and common Punjabis mourn the death of a popular star that rose from poverty to capture the imagination of the masses.
As sensational as the case was, it remains unsolved to this day. But the memory of that murder, and that young extinguished life, is seared into the minds of every Punjabi music lover who was alive then. In death, as in life, Amar Singh Chamkila became an enigma that endures to this day.
Given the tragic fate of the Elvis Of Punjab, Amar Singh Chamkila, one would expect that any film on his life would be somber and grave. But not this one; not when it’s Imtiaz Ali at the helm. In his deft hands, Amar Singh Chamkila’s story takes on the bubbly though poignant effusiveness of Tamasha; the whimsical magic of Rockstar; and the overt sexuality of Netflix’s own ‘She’.
The movie starts off with Chamkila and Amarjot’s murders in the small town of Mehsampur in Punjab. But without giving us time to dwell on the gravity of the happenings, it quickly moves on to ribald references to “khada” and “bambookhat” (translated to erect like a bamboo), as a young Dhani Ram (Chamkila’s real name) soaks in the everyday crudeness of rural Punjab around him.
The narrative swiftly moves to focus on a traditionally dressed Sardarji who begins to narrate the enigma that was Amar Singh Chamkila. We hear the dulcet voice of Mohit Chauhan; and that is when it dawns on us – the attractive-looking man before our eyes is the iconic singer himself. Good touch there! The song itself is frothy and foot-tapping – ‘Baaja’ perfectly sets the tone of the narrative as it unfolds.
The next two hours capture all the drama and compelling urgency of the storyline, but in entertaining, inventive ways. Through Imtiaz Ali’s adroit use of flashbacks, split screens, canny narrators and other innovative narrative devices, we understand where Chamkila comes from, soak in his passion for music, delight in his mild-mannered acceptance of his celebrity status; and more.
The storytelling of Chamkila will remind you of Imtiaz Ali’s previous triumphs, Tamasha and Rockstar. And you realise – the director has finally found his lost mojo. Along with him, the Mozart of Madras, aka A. R. Rahman, is back too. The songs are a joy to listen to. They raise your spirits like nothing else, at the same time, strongly reminiscent of Tamasha and Rockstar. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are on a different level altogether – fun and effervescent.
Talking of lyrics, you realise why Amar Singh Chamkila’s songs raised the heckles of the village elders, and simultaneously, became a talking point. For, the bawdy, risqué lyrics of Chamkila’s songs leave nothing to the imagination. What’s more, Imtiaz Ali takes special pleasure in translating the colloquial Punjabi lyrics to understandable Hindi and English, and displaying them on screen in playful music-video-type fonts.
And believe us when we tell you – the lyrics can make even the most blasé, jaded, been-there-done-that listeners blush with their lascivious brazenness. They talk of creamy breasts and snakes slithering between thighs; illicit s*x between ‘jeth’ and ‘bhabhi’; bodies being kneaded like dough and licked like sugar, and more in the same vein.
The song sequences never feel repetitive, despite the frequency of their appearance. Nor do they cause the pace of the story to slacken at any point. Not an iota of film has been wasted on useless trappings and trimmings or needless frills and froth, to sweeten up the storyline. The narrative flows smoothly and seamlessly, inspite of the constant back and forth of timelines.
Of course, the shining star of Amar Singh Chamkila is, without a doubt, Diljit Dosanjh. The consummately accomplished actor that he is, Dosanjh elevates the role to historic heights. He renders it into a performance that will be remembered for years thereafter. His singing is heartfelt, his emotional beats spot on, and his grasp on his character, absolute.
In the end, one can only feel sad for the enormous talent, gone too early. And can only ponder on the reasons behind his cold-blooded murder – was it his lewd songs that led to it? Or the fact that he was a supposedly low caste dalit who aimed too high? Was he an upstart who became an intolerable thorn in the side of the music establishment of those times? Or victim of polite society’s double standards? Or of covert politics?
His only “fault” was that he gave the masses what they wanted – generously, liberally and straight from the heart. And had to pay with his life for it. The irony is that even today, 36 years after Chamkila gave his life for his music, nothing’s changed in Punjab. It was Chamkila then; it is Sidhu Moosewala today. Who will it be tomorrow?
To sum it up, Amar Singh Chamkila is most definitely a film that deserves to be watched. Diljit Dosanjh, Imtiaz Ali, A. R. Rahman, Irshad Kamil and gang have made sure of it.
Music and Other Departments?
A. R. Rahman’s original soundtrack for Amar Singh Chamkila is a joy to listen to, especially the songs Baaja, Ishq Mitaye and Naram Kaalja. Vidaa Karo doesn’t quite hit the sweet spot though. Sylvester Fonseca’s cinematography is splendid. It gives the retro feel, without the stereotypical sepia-tinted frames. His camerawork beautifully captures Punjab’s hinterlands. Aarti Bajaj deploys her editing skills well, to pull off the flashbacks and split screens to perfection.
Highlights?
Diljit Dosanjh’s Performance
Superb Music
Imtiaz Ali’s Deft Direction
Terrific Storytelling
Memorable Lyrics
Drawbacks?
Skims over grave topics such as the caste divide prevalent in our villages
The second half feels a tad rushed
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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