In the genre of biographical drama, reflecting on the life of legends, comes another biopic that tells the rebellious tale of Punjab’s top-selling music artist Amar Singh Chamkila. The life journey of the ‘Elvis of Punjab’ will be brought to life by musical icon and renowned Indian pop star Diljit Dosanjh. The musical biopic “Amar Singh Chamkila” is set to release on the streaming giant Netflix, and it has recently unveiled the trailer giving a glimpse into the life of an Indian folk singer.Â
What can be expected from the upcoming musical biopic of Indian Folk Singer?
The upcoming musical biopic Amar Singh Chamkila has some renowned names attached to it, which makes it a highly anticipated film for fans. It is based on the life of the titular Indian folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila, whose character will be brought to life by pop star Diljit Dosanjh. The movie is helmed by celebrated Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, whose directorial projects cannot be missed. The film centers around the life of Chamkila, a man “who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the 80s”.Â
Chamkila was the top-selling music artist in his home state of Punjab in northern India when he was gunned down by assailants in 1988.
The singer was just 27 years old when he lost his life. It’s the same age as other legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse, who also lost their lives during their early thirties. The trailer gives a peek into what the audience can expect from the film. The trailer opens with an older Chamkila looking back on his meteoric rise to the top while being described by an interviewer as the “Elvis of Punjab.”
As the trailer progresses, it explores the origins of his career, reflecting on the life-turning moment of his life when Chamkila decided to dive into the world of music, and from there starts his journey of becoming a legend. Before his debut performance, he is randomly assigned the name “Chamkila,” which becomes his identity for eternity. The trailer shows Chamkila rising to stardom as he gains immense recognition. But his fame also garners negative attention for the controversial lyrics of his songs. The taboos and stereotypes of society try to drag down Chamkila, but he doesn’t seem deterred, confidently saying, “I’m a singer, my job is to sing.”
Since the film was directed by Imtiaz Ali, how can viewers not expect the elements of romance? The trailer shows a glimpse of Chamkila’s romance with his wife Amarjot, played by Parineeti Chopra. Needless to say, the musical biopic will feature Chamkila’s own songs, in addition to a fresh soundtrack composed by two-time Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman.Â
The film will be released on Netflix on April 12.
