Imtiaz Ali expressed happiness over Amar Singh Chamkila’s Emmy nomination and praised Diljit Dosanjh’s excellent performance.
Double the Happiness
Released in 2024, Amar Singh Chamkila received two nominations at the International Emmy Awards.
The first nod went to Diljit Dosanjh in the Best Performance by an Actor category, and the second went to the film itself in the Best TV Movie/Mini-Series category.
This achievement marks a major milestone for the Indian musical biopic, which has established its presence on the world stage.
Salute to Punjab
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Imtiaz Ali said that the name of ‘Chamkila’ comes first to his mind, which wove both its liveliness and pain into the lyrics of the song.
He thanked the soil and people of Punjab, saying that this story would not have been possible without their memories and emotions.
Support from Netflix
The film’s production wasn’t easy. Imtiaz was struggling financially at the time, but Netflix invested and showed confidence in the project.
Ali openly admitted, “Without their money and trust, this film couldn’t have been made.”
This support helped the film overcome many production challenges.
Diljit Dosanjh’s Shine
When Diljit Dosanjh received an Emmy nomination, Imtiaz Ali was overjoyed.
He said, “This film wouldn’t have been possible without Diljit.
He breathed life into the character and set the tone for the movie.”
Diljit’s win for Best Actor proved that he brought Chamkila to life on screen.
Team Celebration
Imtiaz praised the hard work of the entire crew—AR Rahman’s musical energy, Irshad Kamil’s lyrics, Parineeti Chopra’s powerful acting, and everyone who gave their all, including Sylvester, Suman, Mohit, and Dhiman.
“This entire team spread Chamkila’s spirit across the world,” he said.
Thanks to Collaborators
Finally, Ali thanked his co-writer brother Sajid Ali, who stood shoulder to shoulder with him, Jassi for research, and Aarti for editing.
He believes that every contribution, big or small, changed the film’s fate.
Chamkila’s True Story
The film depicts the life of Punjabi folk singer Amar Singh Chamkila, who, through his bold songs, exposed the realities of rural life and social evils like dowry and drug addiction.
Her journey through the 1980s, her relationship with Amarjot Kaur, and her murder by a gunshot wound in 1988 at the age of 27 are all presented with great detail.
This success so far has proven that true stories can create a stir on screen.
Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh have proudly presented Chamkila’s life story to the world.
