AMAR SINGH CHAMKILA (2024)
by
Imtiyaz Ali
To be honest, ASC is a tad disappointing offering from Imtiyaz Ali in that it never quite singes you into passion and guilt. Chamkila who mesmerized masses of Punjab with his bawdy lyrical songs and then surprised them with Bhakti offerings was shot dead when he was all of 28 years of age. For a man who aspired to be an electrician but was forced to work in a socks manufacturing unit, Chamkila was too sure of himself as a singer and songwriter to be lost to obscurity. He broke out soon enough and became a phenomenon, so much so that panthi extremists all over the world and his fellow singers became wary of him. Many had reasons to halt his march, but his murder case in March 1988 in broad daylight was never solved.
Canadian Khalistanis are seen threatening him in the film. This has been the norm for the past 40 years. Khalistani gangs have thrived in Canada by delving into drugs, extortion and panthic violence. Diljit Dosanjh has performed out of skin in the film, but Pariniti is a tad lukewarm. As far as singing is concerned, DD's voice does not do justice to high pitched bawdy lyrics, and Chopra's fails completely. And yet this is an engaging, compulsive and essential story that must be told. Was he silenced because he was exercising unhealthy influence upon society? Or was he removed from the scene by his rivals?
One would have expected a lot more from Imtiyaz Ali but he could not control the tone of the film. He has tried to focus on his mass appeal and acceptability, but has not kept focus upon his lyrics which basically maketh the legend that he was. That has taken away the soul of the film. No true artist, which Chamkila was, since he came back to Punjab, despite concrete threats, would only write what people want, rather what he can't help writing. An artist's mode of expression is his USP. If he was just another singer or a mere professional, he would have lied low or kept away from stage. I wish Imtiyaz had delved deeper into Chamkila's soul. I am sure Diljit would not have been found wanting.
#netflix #diljitdosanjh #diljit #amarsinghchamkila #chamkila #punjab #khalistan
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