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Date: 8 March 1988 Place: Mohshampur (Punjab)
A stage was set up in the village. Musicians were sitting on it. There was a crowd of people gathered in front of the stage. Everyone was waiting for their favorite folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila. The anchor announced from the stage. Dil Thaam Ke Baithiye your favorite singer Chamkila is coming on stage.
Chamkila was climbing from the left side of the stage with his wife Amarjot. Meanwhile, some bike riders came and started firing indiscriminately. Chamkila and Amarjot died on the spot in the firing. Khalistan supporters were accused of firing.
Amar Singh Chamkila was the most popular name in Punjab in the 90s. Everyone wanted to hear his songs and live performances. He was accused of singing obscene songs, due to which a section was angry with him. 36 years after Chamkila's murder, Imtiaz Ali has made a film on her life. This film titled 'Amar Singh Chamkila' will be released on OTT on April 12.
In the film, the character of Chamkila is played by Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and his wife's character is played by Parineeti Chopra. Returning to direction after 4 years from the film Imtiaz Ali talked to Bhaskar about the making of the film and Chamkila…
Diljit and Parineeti will be seen together for the first time in this film.
Question: Amar Singh Chamkila, the star of Punjab whom the people there know but the world does not know. How did you arrive at this story?
answer: Some of my friends told me about Chamkila about 15 years ago. At that time I was very attracted by his character, his music, his lyrics and songs. Gradually the thought came to me that if a film was made on this subject, it could be very interesting.
After this I started doing research myself. When I met the people who were in his life and used to be around him, I felt that there is something in his life that I want to say… then I started working on this film.
Question: You have shot the songs of this film live. How was that different experience?
answer: We shot the songs live during the shooting. Just like the entire film is shot. It was interesting for me, director, that you are speaking and then singing. I had this thing in my mind that if you are making a film on the life of a singer, then there are many such situations in his life, when he is rehearsing or composing, he is singing as well as talking.
When people do live shows, speaking and singing are involved. We also shot many live show sequences for this film. I was always looking for an actor who was also a singer. I think it will be very interesting for the audience also.
When we talk, our voice is there but when an actor sings and the voice of Rafi Saheb, Kishore Kumar and Arijit comes, it feels different. In such a situation, it is possible that there may be a slight disconnect. So if it is a singer's film and the actor is singing in it, then it will be a little more fun.
There are several live show sequences in the film. The songs in these sequences have been recorded live.
Question: Today, where other directors prefer to create huge sets, why did you shoot this film on real locations?
answer: I feel that just as truth has its own power, similarly a real location also has a real vibe which you can capture in your film. If you can find that real location better than imagining it, then what is the harm?
This makes the story more interesting and I personally always prefer real location shoots.
'Chamkila' is my first biopic, which is based on someone's life. My wish was to visit those places where the stories which we are showing in the film took place, that is why we have come to Punjab.
Question: Does this film also present the social and political aspects of Punjab of the glittering era i.e. 80s?
answer: This is a personal film. The style of saying this is also personal. We are not giving any political or socio-political statement in this. But I have tried to make it politically and socially authentic so that this story can be more interesting.
Which is the context in which this story is being told. Whatever was true of that time was very important for this film. As you said, this film shows the Punjab of the 80s. That time was a very dramatic phase for Punjab and entire India. At that time Chamkila was at its peak. Everyone was listening to his songs.
We have tried to keep this high and low together in this film. There is no political statement in this but you will definitely see that politics in the background of the story. Without any judgment, you will definitely get a glimpse of the socio-political and cultural situation of that time.
The music of this film has been composed by AR Rahman. Its lyrics have been written by Irshad Kamil.
Question: According to you, how does a folk singer make a place in the hearts of people?
answer: The people for whom Chamkila composed songs had no means of entertainment. They used to come to watch akhadas (live shows) because they neither had radio, nor TV, nor money to entertain themselves in any other way.
The poorest and most backward people were entertained by Chamkila's songs. The identity of a folk singer is that even if people do not recognize him by his face, he lives in their hearts.
Shinde was so popular at the grass root level because he spoke in the language of the people. They spoke about him and that is why people considered Chamkila as their own. He was so popular at the grass root level that he is called the Elvis of Punjab.
It is said that no Punjabi singer has sold as many records as him till date. Even today many singers of Punjab start their shows with Chamkila's song.
The real Amar Singh Chamkila performing with his wife Amarjot. He was a famous folk singer of Punjab in the 80s.
Question: You just shot a scene in which Chamkila wants to sing some other song and the crowd is requesting some other kind of songs from her. So an artiste has his own choice as to what song he wants to sing. He wants to be socio-politically correct but is unable to keep up with public demand. What is this conflict like in Chamkila's life?
answer: This conflict in Chamkila's life was such that this conflict ultimately took her life. Chamkila knew that if he continued singing such songs, he might die. He was given warnings.
But Chamkila had one nature that he could never disappoint the public. Eventually, due to public demand, he started singing again the songs he had left.
His songs were very hit, but at one time he decided that he would not sing such songs and started composing religious songs. His religious songs became bigger hits than his other songs. Those songs are still played in Gurudwara functions even today.
Even though these songs are popular, the public is the public, they had to listen to other songs also. So if Chamkila had wanted to play it safe, she would not have sung the same songs again which led to her death.
This film will be released on Netflix on April 12.
Question: What is your movie making process?
answer: When a film starts being made, I myself am not aware that it has started being made. There comes a time when it takes the form of a story. You start narrating it to everyone. When you are going in an auto, you start telling the story to the auto driver.
Gradually a time comes when the story spreads like a disease in the heart and mind, only then you start writing it. Then that story is given the form of a script and finally it comes to light that you are making a film on that story.
Question: Personally do you like OTT more or cinemas?
answer: I prefer watching movies in the theatre. However, after Covid, like the whole world, I too have started watching more OTT.
Question: Two-three films which you think everyone should watch?
answer: Must watch 'Sholay' and 'Mughal-e-Azam' in Hindi film industry. Apart from this, you should definitely watch 'Munna Bhai 2'. 'Junoon' was a Shyam Benegal film that must be watched. Talking about the recent times, 'Barfi' is a must watch.
According to Imtiaz, everyone should watch Ranbir Kapoor starrer film 'Barfi' once. This is also the director's favorite film.
Question: What thing do you not like about the Hindi film industry?
answer: Nowadays people are looking at film releases like a stock market. We are speculating too much. This is a legacy oriented business and it is important to look at it with the same respect.
Question: What is your dream project?
answer: I am greatly influenced by Lord Krishna and also by Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The story of Radha-Krishna often plays in my mind, so maybe someday I will do something based on that story.
(Disclaimer- At the time this interview was done, journalist Vaibhav Palnitkar was working for Dainik Bhaskar. He is no longer a part of the institute.)