Chamkila: 'A Legend, the Elvis of Punjab'
Controversial and Vulgar Songs or Social Commentary on Punjabi Culture?
During the 1980s in the northwestern state of Punjab the musician Dhunni Ram,1 known by his stage name Amar Singh ‘Chamkila’2, alongside his wife Amarjot and their band of musicians came to dominate the rural Punjabi music scene.
The wikipedia entry for Chamkila mentions:
His music was heavily influenced by the Punjabi village life he was surrounded by growing up. He commonly wrote songs about extra-marital relationships, coming of age, drinking, drug use, and the hot tempers of Punjabi men. He earned a controversial reputation, with his detractors regarding his music obscene, and his supporters regarding it a truthful commentary on Punjabi culture and society
Chamkila, his wife and members of their entourage were fatally wounded on 8 March 1988 near the village of Mehsampur, Punjab. No arrests have ever been made and case remains unsolved.
The deaths remain the subject of continued interest for Chamkila fans and his detractors, and in recent years have seen a surge with youtube commentators and several biopics3, most notably the 2024 Netflix film directed by Imtiaz Ali.
Various theories abound with some suspecting it was the hit ordered by other Punjabi musicians, allegedly jealous over Chamkila’s rising fame, others thought it to be ordered by his former in-laws (Chamkila had left his first wife and family to marry Amarjot) however some believe it to be the actions of religious militants offended by his songs (a claim that some militant groups and their supporters have also supported4).
In addition to the controversies surrounding his lyrics and eventual murder, Chamkila’s personal life has equally been a topic of debate and speculation, regarding the social stigma of his birth into a ‘Dalit’ family5, his rising popularity against the backdrop of the Punjab Insurgency, his bigamy and allegations of domestic violence6.
This series will look into Chamkila and explore his songs, Punjabi culture, the Punjab of the 1980s and related themes.
‘Dhunni Ram’ is elsewhere spelt ‘Dhani Ram’ or ‘Dhanni Ram’
Dhunni Ram is believed to have given himself the stage name ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’. Indian film composer Amit Trevedi is said to have coined ‘the Elvis of Punjab’ title
22 Chamkila Forever was a 2022 Punjabi language biopic about Chamkila directed by Deepa Rai. Meshampur was a 2018 film by Kabir Singh Chowdhry
A youtube video featuring the late leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force Avtar Singh Khanda discusses the death of Chamkila
Dhunni Ram belonged to the ‘Chamar’ community. Some have alleged his murder was also in part due to the communal tensions and his being a ‘Dalit’
A 2024 youtube short features Chamkila’s sister describing Dhunni Ram physically abusing Amarjyot