'Amar Singh Chamkila', directed by Imtiaz Ali and starring Diljit Dosanjh It is Parineeti Chopra, open to extremely positive reviews. The OTT film follows the life and career of renowned Punjabi musician Amar Singh Chamkila, who was murdered at the age of 27 along with his wife Amarjot Kaur. Chamkila was accused of singing songs with 'obscene' and 'vulgar' lyrics that had double meanings. Imtiaz spoke about how Chamkila's songs are 'sexist' and how the lyrics 'objectify' women in a recent interview.
During an interview with Mid-Day, Imtiaz Ali stated that it is up to the audience to decide what they like and what they don't like. He said, “For hundreds of years, not just in Punjab but also in different states of India, shaadi and sangeet songs have always been vulgar. Women are naughtier than men and their naughtiness comes through music and the music they like.”
Referencing the film, Imtiaz emphasized that women in Punjab who listened to Chamkila's songs were not 'dumb' or 'submissive' and often mocked men. “I would like to say that his women were not stupid and were more intelligent and equally participative. In the film, they are seen teasing men and mocking them,” he added.
Using the song from the biopic 'Patt Deon Chugath Ni' as an example, he said, “When an old man says he is young and virile, the woman makes fun of him. It's not like women are always being objectified. They are equals in the relationship. He (Chamkila) might have been saying things that were not acceptable to society, but he was not a sexist kind of person. He was quite liberal in his own way. You may have noticed that even during introductions, it was the woman who provoked the man first. His and Amarjot's songs were more of an act.
The makers of Amar Singh Chamkila released stunning stills from the film after its release, showing a journalist confronting Chamkila over his misogynistic lyrics that objectify women. The scene begins with Chamkila avoiding eye contact with a journalist due to her western-style clothes. The journalist confronts Chamkila's hypocrisy upon learning of his discomfort and points out how his songs negatively portray women. However, Chamkila defends himself and his music, saying, “I just saw all this and heard all this stuff growing up. Not everyone has the luxury of thinking right and wrong. Some people simply need to survive. I am a very ordinary man. I have to make music that people like, otherwise my career will be over.”
During an interview with Mid-Day, Imtiaz Ali stated that it is up to the audience to decide what they like and what they don't like. He said, “For hundreds of years, not just in Punjab but also in different states of India, shaadi and sangeet songs have always been vulgar. Women are naughtier than men and their naughtiness comes through music and the music they like.”
Referencing the film, Imtiaz emphasized that women in Punjab who listened to Chamkila's songs were not 'dumb' or 'submissive' and often mocked men. “I would like to say that his women were not stupid and were more intelligent and equally participative. In the film, they are seen teasing men and mocking them,” he added.
Using the song from the biopic 'Patt Deon Chugath Ni' as an example, he said, “When an old man says he is young and virile, the woman makes fun of him. It's not like women are always being objectified. They are equals in the relationship. He (Chamkila) might have been saying things that were not acceptable to society, but he was not a sexist kind of person. He was quite liberal in his own way. You may have noticed that even during introductions, it was the woman who provoked the man first. His and Amarjot's songs were more of an act.
The makers of Amar Singh Chamkila released stunning stills from the film after its release, showing a journalist confronting Chamkila over his misogynistic lyrics that objectify women. The scene begins with Chamkila avoiding eye contact with a journalist due to her western-style clothes. The journalist confronts Chamkila's hypocrisy upon learning of his discomfort and points out how his songs negatively portray women. However, Chamkila defends himself and his music, saying, “I just saw all this and heard all this stuff growing up. Not everyone has the luxury of thinking right and wrong. Some people simply need to survive. I am a very ordinary man. I have to make music that people like, otherwise my career will be over.”
Laugh, riot alert! Hilarious guess who game with director Imtiaz Ali and 'Amar Singh Chamkila'
