By simran verma
april 12, 2024
In Imtiaz Ali's latest offering on Netflix, Diljit Dosanjh is seen as Amar Singh Chamkila in a biographical drama.
He was and still is, a Punjabi pop icon also popularly known as "The Elvis Presley of Punjab"
He was born in Dhanni Ram into a Dalit Sikh family in the village of Dugri near Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
He was one of the biggest and record-breaking Punjabi singers, song writers, and musicians .
Blessed with expressive vocabulary, a high-pitched voice, and creative songs, along with excellent Tumbi skills, one would think that he would've had an easy life.
Well, he was assassinated at the age of 27 along with his co-singer and wife, Amarjot Kaur, and his two associates before an akhada performance, leaving a lot of conspiracy theories.
Chamkila's songs revolved around alcoholism, drug abuse, hypermasculinity, and extra-marital affairs and while this may be popular at this day & age, but back in his time, it was not well received.
That, combined with people's anger and hatred for his second marriage to his singing partner, Amarjot offended quite many people. A section of Punjab's society found it difficult to accept a Dalit marrying a Jat woman.
Chamkila's influence on Diljit is such that this film is his second on the legendary singer. He earlier starred in a film called Jodi.
While, his death still remains a mystery, his voice did get him many loyal followers. One of them being Diljit Dosanjh.
theindianbugle.com