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 the rural Punjab of the 1980s, a culture full of emotions, humble people and captivating folk music, and immerses us in life. Amar Singh, from humble origins to his meteoric rise to fame.
‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ is an extraordinary story of a talented rural Punjabi folk singer and musician who gave a new dimension to the extraordinary vocals and stories of North India in the 1980s.
His dedication to music made him a star and hence he was nicknamed as ‘Chamkila’ making him the forerunner of the present day behemoth of the Punjabi music industry.
Amar Singh, who was a miller, played by the legendary actor of Punjab origin, Diljit Dosanjh, follows the remarkable journey of his passion for music and gave a new name to the local music of Punjab.
He performs in different villages and crowds and made people go crazy. He performs under the stage name Chamkila (the one who shines) and writes funny songs full of the daily struggles of the local people and other dark evils that permeate the 1980s, when post-independence India was almost a new country and the social life of women was not very good.
From alcohol abuse to extramarital affairs, Amar Singh has covered most topics in the form of songs. Chamkila was highly praised by the people for his boldness, but due to the unstable elements of the society at that time, he also faced a strong reaction from several offended communities.
His collaboration with the famous country singer of the time, Amarjyot Kaur was also one of the iconic collaborations that gave Punjabi folk music recognition in several other parts of the country.
In keeping with the storyline, all the shooting scenes were captured in Chamkila’s hometown to maintain the originality of the content. Filming took place from December 2022 to March 2023.
Amar Singh Chamkila (2024) Movie Filming Locations
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, the flourishing industrial center of Punjab, became a major sport for the scenes. The city included many neighborhoods that provided a suitable backdrop for film formation.
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It also included the village of Dugri where Chamkila was born. Each neighborhood had its own shimmering beauty that was captured in several other film and aerial shots. The village of Sarao east of Ludhiana also became a major firing point.
SANGRUR, INDIA
Another pivotal location for the Amar Singh Chamkila film was the village of Sangrur, which became a live concert stop for the day-to-day scenes.
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The villages of Chural Kalan and Hathan were prominent places where rural scenery was created. The venue was the perfect place to recreate iconic local songs from the 80s.
JALANDHAR, INDIA
Located northwest of Ludhian, the ancient city is home to several ancient architectural sites and gurudwaras, making it a great location to capture key scenes of the Amar Singh Chamkila film. The rural ethnicity and era of the 1980s is prominently portrayed using backdrops that were created in the city.
The simplicity that is maintained in every scene is what makes the Amar Singh Chamkila film down to earth. Jalandhar is known for his contributions to the country’s sports on a global scale, contributing both players and equipment. The villages of Khiala and Mehsampur around Jalandhar were used to shoot the scenes.
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These locations filled an important part of the filming process as it was the same location where Chamkila was murdered on March 8, 1988 in Mehsampur. The shooting for the Amar Singh Chamkila film took place at the venue of the ill-fated concert in Mehsampur.
While shooting an assassination scene, actor Diljit Dosanjh slipped and injured his finger from a tool he was holding. As his blood poured onto the ground, Dosanjh felt a connection with the late musician as he realized that was the exact spot where Chamkil’s blood had been spilled.
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Locals also confirmed the exact location of the assassination and everyone felt a surge of emotion remembering the late musician.
MUMBAI, INDIA
While most of the Amar Singh Chamkila film was shot in northern Punjab, several scenes were set in the studios of the metropolis and the home of Bollywood’s city.
