The journey of Amar Singh Chamkila has been special not just for audiences but also for director Imtiaz Ali and everyone who worked on the film. Released on Netflix on 12 April 2024, the film quickly became a global hit. Now, with the project nominated for International Emmy Awards in the TV Movie/Mini-Series category, and Diljit Dosanjh earning a nomination for Best Performance, Imtiaz has shared the on-set memories that have stayed with him even today.
One of the strongest memories for Imtiaz comes from the day the team recreated Chamkila’s death scene in Mehsampur. He remembers the experience clearly and describes how surreal it felt to stand at the very place where the singer was killed. “We were shooting the death scene at the exact spot where Chamkila was killed,†he recalls. “What struck all of us was how nothing had changed. The house, the patch of ground outside it, even the koti where he had eaten lunch before he was shot, everything was exactly the same after 34 years.â€
After gathering details from locals, the crew pinpointed the exact place where Chamkila had collapsed. Watching Diljit Dosanjh recreate that moment was overwhelming for many on set. “Watching Diljit playing Chamkila shoot for the scene and fall to his death on that same spot, it was bizarre, surreal, almost unsettling,†Imtiaz admits.
But the film also had moments of joy, energy, and discovery. Imtiaz speaks fondly about filming the live singing sequences performed by Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in the akhadas of Punjab.
“The most unique aspect of this film was the live performances of Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti, especially in the akhadas,†he says, adding that he had never filmed live singing before. He explains how special the process was: “It was challenging, but it turned into something spectacular.Â
With live musicians onstage, and Diljit and Parineeti singing in real time before large crowds in recreated concert setups across Punjab, the energy was unmatched. Every word you hear in the film was recorded live. Nothing has been altered. The music you feel is the music we felt in that moment.â€
For Imtiaz Ali, Amar Singh Chamkila was not just a film but an emotional and immersive creative journey. Every memory, every location, and every performance shaped the soul of the movie.
Now, as the film competes at the International Emmys, the cast and crew feel a sense of completion. Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh have already reached New York for the ceremony. The winners will be announced on 24Â November. But for the team, many believe the true emotional victory happened during the making of the film, long before the red carpet moment.Â
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