Amar Singh Chamkila (BIOGRAPHY)

Amar Singh Chamkila

Dhanni Ram (July 21, 1960 – March 8, 1988) commonly known by his stage name Amar Singh Chamkila was a popular Punjabi singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known for his duets performed with his wife and singing partner, Amarjot. He is regarded as one of the best stage performers Punjab has ever produced.

Chamkila's music was heavily influenced by the Punjabi village life he was surrounded by growing up. He commonly wrote songs about extra-marital relationships, coming of age, drinking, drug use, and the hot tempers of Punjabi men. He earned a controversial reputation, with his detractors regarding his music obscene, and his supporters regarding it a truthful commentary on Punjabi culture and society.

His best-known hits include "Pehle Lalkare Naal" and his devotional songs "Baba Tera Nankhana" and "Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di". Though he never recorded it himself, he wrote the widely popular "Jatt Di Dushmani" which has been recorded by many Punjabi artists.

Chamkila and Amarjot, and two members of their band were murdered on March 8, 1988.

 Early life and career

Amar Singh Chamkila was born as Dunni Ram on July 21, 1960 in the village of Dugri near Ludhiana Punjab. He was born into a poor family and was from the Chamar caste. The youngest child of Kartar Kaur and Hari Singh, he was educated at Gujar Khan Primary School in Dugri. Dhanni Ram spent much of his few years in school singing for classmates and at the request of teachers. At the age of eighteen, in 1978, serious about pursuing a career in music, he was introduced to Punjabi folk singer Surinder Shinda. He touched Shinda's feet as a sign of respect and asked him for formal vocal training. Upon hearing the 18-year-old sing, Shinda realized he had finally found the protégé he had been looking for. Shinda began training his young student, who in turn was determined and hard working. He was given the name “Chamkila” which means luminous in Hindi and Punjabi. Shinda would later call Chamkila a rising star of Punjabi music.
In 1987, Chamkila and Amarjot made a special appearance in the Punjabi film, Patola singing a revised version of his popular song Pehle Lalkare Naal.

Songwriting

Unlike many other popular singers of the time, Chamkila was also a talented and prolific songwriter. With the exception Chaklo Drivero Purje Nu and "Deora Ve Tavitan Walea", written by friend and fellow musician pali detwalia, Jhaga Chak Chaudhary, written by Gill Surjit, and most of his devotional songs, Chamkila wrote all of his own lyrics.

His close friend and fellow musician, Jaswant Sandila, said Chamkila was a workaholic, and spent much of his time writing lyrics. His wife remembers him writing songs late into the night by candlelight. He penned and sold songs to fellow singers including Surinder Sonia, Surinder Shinda, Baljit Balli, Pyara S. Pancchi, K. S. Konner, and Gulshan Komal.

The majority of his songs were duets, with Amarjot and Chamkila singing alternating verses. Generally written in the first-person perspective, a common theme in his lyrics was the satirical dialog between a husband and wife or two lovers in an often-dysfunctional relationship. Through this medium, Chamkila touched on a variety of topics prevalent in Punjabi society extra-marital affairs, forbidden love, drinking, drug use, and violent tenancies in youth. Many of his songs were cheeky and playful in nature. While this provocative style contributed to his widespread success, it also earned him a controversial reputation with his detractors, which persists even today. Though not apparent at the time, He had, in effect, contributed to shift in the way Punjabi music was to be performed, introducing new subjects into the genre once limited to songs about Punjab's love stories and heroes.

Music Style

Chamkila is counted among one of Punjab's most notable live stage performers. He was widely known for his charming and charismatic stage presence. On videos of his concerts, he can be frequently seen interacting with the crowd, cracking jokes, and sharing modicums of advice usually related to the context of his songs. He frequently asked audience members to pay special attention to his lyrics rather than dancing. He would then finish his shows with boliyan where audience members would dance. 

Death

On March 8, 1988, Chamkila and Amarjot arrived in the famous village Mesumpur in Punjab, India, for a live performance at a wedding party. Upon exiting their vehicle, Chamkila, Amarjot and a group member Gill were shot at and fatally wounded by armed assailants rumoured to have AK47's. The attackers evaded capture and no charges were laid in connection with the shooting.
Although the motive for the murders was never fully established, it is a popular topic of debate among fans. The most common theory suggests Sikh militants orchestrated the murders. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada commissioned an inquiry seeking information on the killings, on the basis that Chamkila and Amarjot were killed by Sikh militants. The inquiry did not turn up any useful information despite consultation with several sources. An Indian news and editorial outlet named the assassination of Chamkila as one of the most controversial unsolved murder cases in India.

Legacy

Influence

Indian film composer Amit Trivedi called Chamkila “a legend, the ‘Elvis of Punjab.’
British Indian musician, Panjabi MC, cites Chamkila as one of his musical influences. The song Kaadha Soorma from his 2008 album, Indian Timing, includes Chamkila's vocals.

Film adaptation

A biopic titled Chamkila was planned starring Indian actor Kunal Kapoor in the lead role directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. The project ultimately shelved.
Indian filmmaker Gunjit Chopra has completed a Chamkila biopic and is working on a script for a full-length feature film.