Amar Singh Chamkila (21 July 1960 8 March 1988) was an Indian singer and musician of

Punjabi music The music of Punjab reflects the traditions of the Punjab region associated with Punjabi language. Punjab is currently divided into two parts: East Punjab, in India, and West Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan. The Punjab has diver ...

. Chamkila's vivid language, high-pitched vocals, and novel compositions accompanied by

tumbi The tumbi or toombi (, pronunciation: ''tūmbī''), also called a tumba or toomba, is a traditional musical instrument from the Punjab region of the northern Indian subcontinent. The high-pitched, single-string plucking instrument is associated ...

made him popular. His music was influenced by the Punjabi village life in which he grew up. On 8 March 1988, at the height of his popularity during the

insurgency in Punjab, India The Insurgency in Punjab was an armed campaign by the separatists of the Khalistan movement from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Economic and social pressures driven by the Green Revolution in India, Green Revolution prompted calls for Sikh aut ...

, Chamkila and his second wife Amarjot were killed along with two members of their band in an assassination which remains unsolved. Chamkila was an influential Punjabi artist and live stage performer, often called the "

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley's sexuall ...

of Punjab". His first recorded song was "Takue Te Takua", and his hits include "Pehle Lalkare Naal" and the devotional songs " Baba Tera Nankana", "Tar Gayi

Ravidas Ravidas or Raidas was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a ''guru'' (spiritual teacher) in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya P ...

Di Pathri", and "Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di". Though he never recorded it himself, he wrote the song " Jatt Di Dushmani", which has been performed by many other Punjabi artists.

Early life

Amar Singh Chamkila was born as Dhani Ram on 21 July 1960 into a

Dalit Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...

Sikh Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...

family in the village of Dugri near

Ludhiana Ludhiana () is the most populous Cities in India, city in the Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab.164.100.161.224 http://164.100.161.224 › filesPDF Ludhiana State: Punjab Business & Industrial Centre, Tier 2 1 ... The city has an estima ...

Punjab, India Punjab () is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab, Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the States and union territories of India, Indian states ...

. His aspirations of becoming an electrician were unfulfilled and he eventually found work at a Ludhiana cloth mill.

Career in music

With a natural aptitude for music, Chamkila learned to play the

harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...

and

dholki ''dholak'' is a two-headed hand drum, a folk percussion instrument. The dholak is most commonly recognised in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, but can also be found amongst the Indo-Diaspora in countries such ...

. In 1979, Chamkila approached

Surinder Shinda Surinder Pal Dhammi (20 May 1953 – 26 July 2023), better known as Surinder Shinda, was an Indian singer of Punjabi music who is considered a "grandfather of MOC (Music on Console)", and has been described as "legendary". He had numerous hit ...

for the first time on a bicycle with his best friend Kuldeep Paras. When Shinda heard the 18-year-old Chamkila sing, he finally found the protégé he had been looking for. Chamkila would go on to play alongside Punjabi folk artists such as K. Deep, Mohammad Sadiq, and Shinda. Chamkila wrote several songs for Shinda and accompanied him as a member of his entourage before deciding to pursue a solo career. Adopting the stage name Amar Singh Chamkila – ''Chamkila'' in Punjabi means "one that glitters" – Chamkila first partnered up with the female vocalist Surinder Sonia, who had previously worked with Surinder Shinda. Sonia had felt sidelined after Shinda took Gulshan Komal to a tour in Canada, after which she was instrumental in pushing Chamkila to record his debut album. The pair recorded eight duets and released the album ''Takue Te Takua'' in 1980 with music produced by Charanjit Ahuja. The cunningly worded lyrics, which he had written himself, became hits across Punjab. In 1980, Chamkila felt he was being significantly underpaid by Surinder Sonia's manager (her husband) and decided to form his own group. Chamkila established short-lived stage partnerships with Miss Usha Kiran,

Amar Noorie Amar Noorie (also spelled as Amar Noori) is an Indian singer and actress who works in Punjabi language, Punjabi-language films. She was married to Sardool Sikander, a noted Punjabi singer. Early life and career Amar Noorie was born on 23 May ...

, and others. For the most part, he continued to write his own lyrics, the majority of which were boyish and suggestive yet fluent commentaries on

extramarital affairs An affair is a relationship typically between two people, one or both of whom are either married or in a long-term monogamous or emotionally-exclusive relationship with someone else. The affair can be solely sexual, solely physical or solely em ...

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

, and drug use. The couple's appeal grew not only in the Punjab but also among international Punjabis abroad. Around this time, Chamkila was rumoured to be receiving more bookings than his contemporaries. The biography ''Awaz Mardi Nahin'' by Gulzar Singh Shaunki found during its research that at the height of his popularity Chamkila had performed 366 shows in 365 days.

Assassination

On 8 March 1988 at approximately 2 PM, having arrived to perform in Mehsampur,

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

, both Chamkila and his wife Amarjot were gunned down as they exited their vehicle. A gang of motorcyclists fired several rounds, fatally wounding the couple and other members of the entourage. However, no arrests were ever made in connection with the shooting, and the case was never solved. It has been alleged that Sikh militants were responsible. This theory was refuted by Chamkila's close friend and lyricist Swarn Sivia, who investigated the murder independently. Sivia revealed that three Khalistani militant organisations targeted Chamkila due to his controversial songs. Acting as a mediator, Sivia facilitated a meeting between Chamkila and a delegation of five Khalistani leaders at Darbar Sahib Amritsar where Chamkila apologised and vowed to change the themes of his songs. Following that, Chamkila performed some timeless songs on Sikh history, including "Sathon Baba Kho Laya Tera Nankana". Sivia remained skeptical that Khalistan militants were responsible for his murder, saying, "Throughout my life, I have continued to investigate who was behind his killing."

Legacy

Influence

Indian

film composer A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental, or choral pieces called cues, which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to ...

Amit Trivedi Amit Trivedi (born 8 April 1979) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer, songwriter, musician who works primarily for Indian cinema. After working as a theatre and jingle composer and composing for non-film albums, he debuted as ...

called Chamkila "a legend, the

of Punjab."

British Indian British Indians are citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) whose ancestral roots are from India. Currently, the British Indian population exceeds 2 million people in the UK, making them the single largest Ethnic groups in the United Kingdo ...

musician

Panjabi MC Rajinder Singh Rai (born February 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Panjabi MC, is an English recording artist, rapper, record producer and DJ. He is best known for the worldwide Bhangra 2002 hit " Mundian To Bach Ke", which sold 10 m ...

cites Chamkila as one of his musical influences.

In popular culture

''Mehsampur'' is a 2018 Indian

mockumentary A mockumentary (a portmanteau of ''mock'' and ''documentary'') is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events, but presented as a Documentary film, documentary. Mockumentaries are often used to analyze or comment on current event ...

film based on Chamkila's life, produced and directed by Kabir Singh Chowdhry. '' Jodi'', a 2023 Indian Punjabi-language film, was inspired by the life of Chamkila. ''

Amar Singh Chamkila Amar Singh Chamkila (21 July 1960 8 March 1988) was an Indian singer and musician of Punjabi music. Chamkila's vivid language, high-pitched vocals, and novel compositions accompanied by tumbi made him popular. His music was influenced by the ...

'', a biographical drama film based on Chamkila's life, was released on

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

on 12 April 2024. It is directed by Imtiaz Ali and stars

Diljit Dosanjh Diljit Dosanjh (born 6 January 1984) is an Indian singer, actor and film producer who works in Punjabi and Hindi cinema. Dosanjh entered the Social 50 chart by ''Billboard'' in 2020. He has been featured in various music charts, including ...

as Chamkila and

Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra (; born 22 October 1987) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. Chopra is a recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Parineeti Chopra, several accolades, including a Filmfare Awar ...

as his wife, Amarjot Kaur.

Discography

Chamkila's studio recordings were released by

His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...

LP records The LP (from long playing or long play) is an analog sound storage medium, specifically a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification ...

and EP records during his lifetime. Though several compilation albums have been released since his death, the following CDs compiled by

Saregama Saregama India Ltd is an Indian music record label and content company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is the oldest music label in India, established in 1901 as the Indian branch of the British Gramophone Company. It later became ...

comprise nearly all of Chamkila's studio recordings: * ''Amar Singh Chamkila Surinder Sonia'' (EP)

981 Year 981 ( CMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – Emperor Otto II (the Red) leads the imperial court to Rome, making the city his imperial capital, and receiv ...

* ''Surinder Sonia & Amar Singh Chamkila'' (EP)

982 Year 982 ( CMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Emperor Otto II (the Red) assembles an imperial expeditionary force at Taranto, and proceeds along the gulf coas ...

* ''Mitra Main Khand Ban Gai'' (EP)

983 Year 983 ( CMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Diet of Verona: Emperor Otto II (the Red) declares war against the Byzantine Empire and the Emirate of Sicily ...

* ''Chaklo Driver Purje Nun'' (EP) * ''

Jija Lak Minle ''Jija Lak Minle'' () is a Punjabi music album. The album features Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjot as the lead singers. {{track listing , headline = Album , extra_column = Artist(s) , all_lyrics = Amar Singh Chamkila , all_musi ...

'' (LP)

* ''

Hikk Utte So Ja Ve ''Hik Utte So Ja Ve'' () is a Punjabi music album. The album features Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjot as the lead singers. {{track listing , headline = Album , extra_column = Artist(s) , all_lyrics = Amar Singh Chamkila , all_m ...

'' (LP)

985 Year 985 ( CMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Henry II (the Wrangler) is restored as duke of Bavaria by Empress Theophanu and her mother-in-law Adelaide at an ...

* ''Bhul Gai Main Ghund Kadna'' (LP)

* ''Rat Nun Sulah-Safaiyan'' (EP)

* ''Sharbat Vangoon Ghut Bhar Laa'' (LP) 987* '' Baba Tera Nankana'' * '' Tar Gayi Ravidas Di Pathri'' * '' Naam Jap Le'' (1986) * '' Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di Haan'' (1985) * ''Yaad Aave War War'' (LP)

988 Year 988 ( CMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Fall – Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6,000 Varangians (the future Varangian Guard), organiz ...

(released after his death)

Posthumous albums

* ''The Diamond'' (2014)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chamkila, Amar Singh 1960 births 1988 crimes in India 1988 deaths 1988 murders in India 20th-century Indian singers 20th-century Indian male singers Bhangra (music) musicians Deaths by firearm in India Indian singer-songwriters Indian murder victims Musicians from Ludhiana People murdered in Punjab, India Singers from Punjab, India Unsolved murders in India Victims of Sikh terrorism Victims of the insurgency in Punjab Indian artists Dalit people Assassinations in India People assassinated in the 20th century Punjabi-language singers Punjabi-language songwriters Dalit writers