Amar Singh Chamkila
| Amar Singh Chamkila | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | amar singh sandila |
| Also known as | chamkila |
| Born |
21 July 1960 Dugri, Punjab, India |
| Died | 8 March 1988 (aged 27) Mehsumpur, Punjab, India |
| Genres | Punjabi duets, solos, lok-tath and lok-katha(Folk), dharmik |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician, composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, tumbi, harmonium, dholak |
| Years active | 1979–1988 |
| Labels | HMV |
| Associated acts | Chamkila & Amarjot, Surinder Sonia,Usha Kiran,Harneet Neetu |
| Website | www.amarsinghchamkila.com |
Amar Singh(21 July 1960 – 8 March 1988), commonly known by his stage name Amar Singh Chamkila, was a popular Punjabi singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. Chamkila and his wife and singing partner Amarjot were killed, along with two members of their band on 8 March 1988 allegedly by a gang of unknown youths.
Chamkila is regarded as one of the best stage performers Punjab has ever produced. 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.
His best-known hits include "Pehle Lalkare Naal" and his devotional songs "Baba Tera Nankana" and "Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di". Though he never recorded it himself, he wrote the widely popular "Jatt Di Dushmani" which has been recorded by many Punjabi artists.He got fame from his first ever recorded song takuve te takuva.
Amar Singh Chamkila was born as Amar Singh Sandila on 21 July 1960 in the village of Dugri near Ludhiana, Punjab, India.He was called by family as dhanni ram because his father's name was Hari Ram(Dhanni as a synoynm of Hari). He was born into a poor family in the chamar caste. The youngest child of Kartar Kaur and Hari Ram, he was educated at Gujar Khan Primary School in Dugri. His aspirations of becoming an electrician were unfulfilled and he found work at a Ludhiana cloth mill. With a natural aptitude for music, he learned to play the harmonium and dholki.In 1979, Chamkila approached Shinda for the first time on a bicycle with his best friend Kuldeep paras. When Shinda heard the 18-year-old Chamkila sing, he had finally found the protege that he had been looking for. Chamkila would go on to play alongside Punjabi folk artists such as K. Deep, Mohammad Sadiq and Surinder Shinda. He wrote several songs for Shinda and accompanied him as a member of his entourage before deciding to pursue a solo career. It is rumoured that Chamkila was happy enough writing songs, but he wasn't earning enough money to look after his family, so had to start singing.
He was married to Gurmail Kaur by family with whom he had two daughters, Amandeep Kaur and Kamandeep Kaur(kaman was changed to kamal by mistake by her school teacher). Chamkila's second marriage was with his co-singer Amarjot Kaur, with whom he has a son Jaiman Chamkila.It was a love marriage held on 23rd May 1983.
Adopting the stage name Amar Singh Chamkila – Chamkila in Punjabi means one that glitters. He partnered up with the female vocalist Surinder Sonia and recorded eight duets. The record was released in 1981 and 1982 and was produced by Charanjit Ahuja. The cunningly worded lyrics, which he had written himself, became hits across Punjab.
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