Director Imtiaz Ali says making “Amar Singh Chamkila” felt more like an emotional pull than a smart career move. The film, which stars Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, just earned a nomination at the International Emmy Awards, leaving fans and Ali buzzing with excitement.
In a chat with , Ali opened up about how his deep connection to Punjab stories finally led him to this project. He remembers hearing about Chamkila—a massive music star from the 1980s—over and over while shooting in Punjab. Locals would tell him, “You know, there was this guy who became a huge phenomenon. No one in Punjab had ever seen a musical talent like him. His life was full of drama and ended in tragedy. Why not make a movie about him?”
But Ali held back. He didn’t know much about Chamkila at first, and he heard that rights to his life story had tripped up others in the Bollywood industry. “A lot of my friends in Mumbai had tried and failed to get a film off the ground,” he shared.
Then, during the pandemic, everything changed. A guy named Harpreet, with no ties to filmmaking, showed up at Ali’s office. He’d somehow secured the rights for the first time and insisted Ali direct it. “He wasn’t anyone big—just an everyday person—but he did what millionaires couldn’t,” Ali said with a laugh. For Ali, it felt like destiny. Chamkila’s rise to fame and shocking end in Punjab’s turbulent times was a story begging to be told. “It was a real blessing,” he added.
Monika Shergill, Netflix’s VP of Content, praised the film’s global nod at the International Emmy Awards. She told it’s proof that hyper-local Indian tales can capture hearts everywhere. “As an Indian, it’s amazing to see a unique story like this get international recognition,” she said.
Shergill pointed out how the world is tuning into the magic of music-driven storytelling. She compared “Amar Singh Chamkila” to Netflix’s blockbuster “K-pop Demon Hunters,” where the soundtrack blew up globally. “Chamkila came first and showed that power,” she noted. The film’s awards, social media frenzy, viral songs, and reels are introducing India’s vibrant culture to new audiences.
She also shouted out “RRR” and its hit track “Natu Natu,” which took off worldwide. “Chamkila fits right in with those greats,” Shergill said. “It blends story and music in a fresh way that speaks to everyone—no changes needed. This is Indian cinema sharing a new kind of storytelling with the globe.”
The 2024 Netflix release dives into the life of Amar Singh Chamkila, the Punjab folk singer whose bold tunes made him a superstar before his tragic murder.
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