Under the creative direction of Imtiaz Ali and based on the true story of Amar Singh Chamkila, The Netflix musical biopic takes us back to 1980s rural Punjab, a culture filled with lots of emotions, humble people, and captivating folklore music and immerses us in the life of Amar Singh, from humble origins to his meteoric climb to fame.
“Amar Singh Chamkila” is an extraordinary tale of a talented rural Punjabi folk singer and musician who gave new limelight to the extraordinary vocals and tales of the 80’s northern India. His dedication to the music made him a star and thus was nicknamed “Chamkila” thus becoming a forerunner for the current behemoth of the Punjabi music industry.
Portrayed by the legendary punjab-origins actor, Diljit Dosanjh, Amar Singh who was a millworker followed the remarkable path of his passion for music and gave a new name to Punjab’s local music. He performed across various villages and crowds and made the people go frenzy about him.
He goes by the stage name, Chamkila (one who shines)and writes humorous songs filled with the daily struggles of local people and other dark evils penetrating in the 80 decade when India was an almost new country after independence and the social life of women was not very good. From alcohol abuse to extramarital affairs, Amar Singh covered most topics in the form of songs.
Chamkila was well praised by people for his boldness but due to the unstable elements of the society during that time, he also faced severe backlash from a few offended communities. His collab with the famous rural singer of that time, Amarjyot Kaur was also one of the iconic collabs which gave the Punjabi folk music recognition in several other parts of the country.
Being true to the plot story, all shooting scenes were captivated at Chamkila’s hometown to preserve the originality of the content.
Where Was Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Filmed?
Principal photography of Amar Singh Chamkila movie was carried out between December 2022 and March 2023. The rural shooting locations included Khiala, Chural Kalaan, Sarao, Hathan, and Mehsampur.
The production team also visited the cities of Sangrur, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana in Punjab.
LUDHIANA (INDIA)
Ludhiana, a flourishing industrial hub of Punjab became a major sport for the scenes. The city included many districts which provided a suitable backdrop for the Amar Singh Chamkila movie formation. This also included the village of Dugri, where Chamkila was born.
Every district had its glistening beauty which was captured in several other cinematic and aerial shots. Sarao village, to the east of Ludhiana, also became a major shooting site.
JALANDHAR (INDIA)
Situated to the northwest of Ludhian, The ancient city is home to several old architectural sites and gurudwaras making it a wonderful site to capture the pivotal scenes of the Amar Singh Chamkila movie. The rural ethnicity and the 80s are greatly portrayed with the help of backdrops that were created in the city.
The simplicity that is preserved in every scene is what makes the movie down to earth. Jalandhar is known for its contributions to the country’s sports on a global scale, contributing both players and equipment. Khiala and Mehsampur villages around Jalandhar were used to film the scenes.
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These places filled an important piece for the filming process as these were the same place where Chamkila was assassinated in Mehsampur on March 8, 1988. Filming for the movie was done at the place of the ill-fated concert in Mehsampur. Actor Diljit Dosanjh slipped while filming the assassination scene, causing a gash on his finger from the instrument he held.
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As his blood poured onto the ground, Dosanjh felt a connection to the late musician, realizing that this was the precise site where Chamkila’s blood had been spilled. The locals also confirmed the exact assassination location and everyone felt a surge of emotions remembering the late musician.
SANGRUR (INDIA)
Another pivotal location for the filming of the Amar Singh Chamkila movie was the Sangrur village which became a live concert stop for everyday scenes.
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Chural Kalan and Hathan villages were the prominent locations where the rural backdrops were created. The place was a perfect location to recreate the iconic 80s local songs.
MUMBAI (INDIA)
Although the majority part of the Amar Singh Chamkila movie was filmed in northern Punjab, a few scenes were carried out in the studios of the metropolitan and the home to Bollywood City.
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