Amar Singh Chamkila tells the true story of one of the most popular Punjabi singers of all time, whose songs were underplayed but listened to by all. One of the most controversial figures in the history of Punjabi music, he was shot dead at the age of 27 for his vulgar lyrics – although every celebration of the era is incomplete without his tunes.

Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila begins with the legendary singer and his partner and wife Amarjot Kaur ( Parineeti Chopra) was shot dead by an unidentified man. The rest of the film unfolds in flashback, starting with his childhood, when the innocent, impressionable boy discovered the secret sexual habits and innuendos of those around him.

Diljeet Dosanjh fits perfectly into the musical shoes of adult Chamkila. He portrays Chamkila as a simple and curious person with a strong desire to sing and a permanent smile. Although it was a means to success, he worked hard to pave his own path. He is aware of the challenges but refuses to put anything above his pride. Although he appears shy and naive, he sometimes knows how to manipulate things and make them work in his favor.

However, Parineeti Chopra’s performance is extremely bland. In scenes where she’s supposed to play a shy and reserved woman, she immediately comes across as a lost person with something strange going on in their head. One of the scenes features a real clip of Amarjot Kaur performing alongside, further teasing Parineeti’s special acting chops.

Her poor performance is balanced by Anjum Batra, who plays Chamkila’s close friend Tiki, who helps Chamkila grow his career and once cursed him to go when things turned ugly die. Batra loyally plays the role of a close friend who will do anything for you when you are not on their side.

Amar Singh Chamkila Review: Feels Like a Warm and Delicious Slice of Real Punjabi

Amar Singh Chamkila Diljit Dosanjh in stills

Amar Singh Chamkila has somehow managed to capture the true essence of Punjab. Whether it’s the depiction of akahadas, small gatherings performed on stage, or the cultural nuances, the film accurately reflects what was happening in the agricultural country.

Amar Singh Chamkila is one of those rare selections in mainstream Hindi cinema that rightly captures the true essence of Punjabi culture, breaking away from the Punjabi obsession with Punjabi forced accents and Stereotype of interesting personality.

Even the political climate of Punjab is reflected in the film, with characters throwing around terms like “gay” and “fundamentalist” like frisbees.

Amar Singh Chamkila review: This movie raises an important topic

While at its core it is the controversial singer’s life story, it also raises some important questions about Indian society’s culture of secrecy surrounding sex.

It rightly exposes the deep-seated hypocrisy that references to sex and sexuality are considered immoral, yet the vast number of folk songs played at weddings and ceremonies have a distinctly suggestive tone.

However, this topic could have been explored further. While the theme looks great on paper, the execution could be more effective with just a little more effort.

Amar Singh Chamkila Review: Creative Slideshow of Important Events in His Life

A Hindi translation of Chamujila verses flashes on the screen in the film

The film cinematically stitches together key events in Chamkiela’s life. From his approach to a local musician and his first stage performance, to his wedding and eventual assassination, everything happens like successive chapters of a drama.

Before each key event, the year and location appear on the screen in an interesting way, giving it a PPT feel, with each slide representing a different stage of his life.

Imtiaz also incorporates some real-life newspaper clippings and photographs, creating interesting comparisons between sources and recreations. Sometimes, you see Diljit and Pareeniti’s original images as they were taken, and sometimes, the screen splits in two, drawing a clear parallel between the two.

Some scenes of Diljit and Parineeti are also edited like old video movies, adding a touch of nostalgia.

It seems almost all available media about Chamkila – such as his music record covers and performance clippings – was incorporated into the film. For example, in one scene, it is shown how one of Chamkila’s popular album covers was shot. Likewise, during the wedding process, pictures of Chamkila’s real wedding will also be shown.

It’s also worth mentioning how the Hindi translation of Chamkila’s verses flashes on the screen, allowing users like me who don’t speak fluent Punjabi to still understand what the songs really mean and why they are controversial.

Amar Singh Chamkila: The film doesn’t delve much into Chamkila’s inner thoughts

The film oversimplifies the character of a man with many layers. I’d love to know more about what’s going on in Chamkila’s head.

It would be quite interesting to explore how an artist like him deals with unexpected chapters in his destiny, or even how he views the daily events around him. For now, it feels like the film is superficially touching the tip of the emotional iceberg. Just as the film begins to delve into the area, it quickly ends.

While one scene briefly touches on the emptiness that comes with success and your previous perception of happiness, it would have been great to watch this concept in more detail.

It can be said that Imtiaz had a perfect opportunity to tap into the heart of Chamkila, but he missed it. (Or did he expect too much from Rockstar and Tamasha?)