He was hated by some, loved by more. He spent half his life making controversial songs that people still listen to today and he was shot dead because of it. Is he Tupac? No. Biggie? Nope. Bob Marley? Not even close.
He is Dunni Singh Ram, otherwise known as Amar Singh Chamkila. He made songs about adultery, wife-beating and drug use. The man is perhaps Punjab’s most controversial singer ever, as well as one the most popular. Despite dying over 20 years ago, his albums still sell throughout the world and his songs are still played on Punjabi radio stations everywhere.
Born and raised in central Punjab, Ludhiana, as a young boy Chamkila found he had a natural talent in music, mastering instruments such as the dholki and harmonium from a very young age. He began writing songs as a child and by the age of 15 had attracted a lot of interest in his talents. When he was 18, Chamkila approached Surinder Shinda, a highly respected singer, to show off his singing voice. Shinda was so taken by Chamkila’s unique voice that he immediately took him under his wing.
Chamkila started off writing songs and playing instruments for Shinda, but soon decided to start performing himself, taking the name of old Punjabi folk singer ‘Chamkila’, which means “that which glitters”.
When the new Chamkila went solo he took much of Shinda’s band with him, as well as his female stage companion and comedian. This allegedly started a rift between the two and is the reason why Shinda is often accused of having a hand in Chamkila’s murder.
Chamkila partnered himself with female singers, (such as Sonia and Ms Usha) but was most known for his partnership with Kuldip Manak’s former stage partner Amarjot. Throughout his career, despite being married, Chamkila was thought to have been in adulterous relationships with his female stage partners. This became clear when he left his wife to begin a relationship with Amarjot in 1982, aged just 21.
Despite his tumultuous domestic life, publicly everything was smooth running for Chamkila. He was Punjab’s most in-demand singer, thousands would turn up to his free concerts and his innuendo filled songs were known everywhere; spreading his popularity to countries such as Canada and Britain.
Despite his unquestioned popularity, Chamkila began receiving death threats around this time. Most were centred on his provocative and sometimes explicit lyrics: such as, how he saw it as common practice for men in India to sleep with their in-house workers and beat their wives.
By 1985, the public were well and truly split over their feelings for Chamkila. He was still as popular as ever but at the same time many called for him to stop slighting the Punjabi culture by exposing the seedier side of life in his songs.
Chamkila tried to reinvent himself and sung many religious songs, the profits of which were sent to Gurdwara’s across Punjab. He stopped performing some of his more offensive songs and even began performing less in public to avoid controversy. He still could not shake off his haters however.
Another factor against Chamkila was the fact that he came from a caste considered low- Ravidasia or Chamar – and he was in a public relationship with Amarjot, who was of the Tharkahn caste. It is thought this angered many, especially as he was flaunting the relationship, singing lewd songs with his partner on stage in front of thousands.
In 1988 Chamkila came to perform at a festival in Mesumpur. As he stepped out of his car, shots were fired at him and the vehicle. He was killed instantly, as were those inside the vehicle. Amarjot, who was pregnant with Chamkila’s child at the time, also died instantly, alongside two more members of his band.
No one was ever arrested for his killing but numerous conspiracy theories have arisen. Some believe that other artists were jealous of his popularity and paid to have him killed. Others believe religious extremists had him killed, because his songs exposed the seedier side to life in Punjab. Many others believe that he was killed because he was in a relationship with someone from a different caste.
Whatever the reason he was killed, the death of Chamkila has not dented his popularity, or his standing as one of Punjab’s most accomplished musicians. Even today, some of his LP’s stand as the highest selling record by a Punjabi artist, whilst his music is sampled by many artists in their songs today.
It may be 22 years since his death but without doubt Chamkila, the original bad boy of bhangra, will be remembered forever.
