Months after Amar Singh Chamkila's murder, Dharmendra's cousin ...
Amar Singh Chamkila and his wife and co-singer Amarjot were shot in 1998.
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s fascination with the life of the late Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila has resulted in a full-length feature film starring Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh and Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra. Titled Amar Singh Chamkila, the movie has ignited curiosity among fans about Punjab’s tumultuous times in the 1980s, marked by rampant militant insurgency.
During this turbulent period, aside from Chamkila, numerous writers, poets, and singers fell victim to violence perpetrated by militants. Among them was Veerendar Singh (his real name was Subhash Dhadwal), a Punjabi cinema superstar and cousin of Bollywood actor Dharmendra. He was fatally shot while filming “Jatt te Zameen” in Ludhiana in December 1988, just months after Amar Singh Chamkila’s tragic death. Although the circumstances surrounding Veerendar’s demise remain unclear, militants were suspected at the time but the case remained unsolved.
Veerendar was a fixture in Punjabi films of the 1980s, appearing in popular movies like Batwara, Lambhardarni, Balbiro Bhabhi, and Dushmani Dee Agg, the latter released posthumously. He was 40 years old at the time of his death.
The 1980s proved to be a challenging period for poets, writers, singers, and dreamers in Punjab. Chamkila, known as ‘Elvis of Punjab,’ met a tragic end at the age of 27. His songs delved into themes of Jatt pride, the struggles of farm workers, alcoholism, dowry, domestic violence, illicit relationships, and drug abuse in feudal Punjab. Despite garnering popularity among audiences, including Jat Sikhs, Chamkila faced criticism for the perceived explicitness of his lyrics.
Chamkila’s ascent coincided with heightened political tensions in Punjab, particularly in 1984, when anti-Sikh riots erupted in North India. His controversial songs faced opposition, with some deeming them inappropriate and lewd. Chamkila was fatally shot at Punjab’s Mehsampur, along with his wife and singing partner, Amarjot Singh. They were set to perform at a venue in the city.
The biopic Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, premiered on Netflix on April 12. The film has received glorious reviews and is also hailed by the audience.
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