All About Amar Singh Chamkila

Amar Chamkila
Birth name Dunni Ram
Born July 21, 1960
Dugri, India
Origin Ludhiana
Died March 8, 1988 (aged 27)
Genres Punjabi folk
Punjabi folk songs
Occupations Singer
Years active 1979-1988


Amar Chamkila was born as Dunni Ram on July 21, 1960 in the village of Dugri near Ludhiana, Punjab, India.He was born into a poor family of the Chamar caste. The youngest child of Kartar Kaur and Hari Singh, he was educated at Gujar Khan Primary School in Dugri. His aspirations of becoming an electrician were unfulfilled and he found work at a Ludhiana cloth mill.

With a natural aptitude for music, he learned to play the harmonium and dholki. Punjabi folk musician Surinder Shinda has said that in 1978, Chamkila approached him for the first time on a bicycle. When Shinda heard the 18-year-old Chamkila sing, he had finally found the protege that he had been looking for. Chamkila would go onto play alongside Punjabi folk artists such as K. Deep, Mohammad Saddiq and Surinder Shinda. He wrote several songs for Shinda and accompanied him as a member of his entourage before deciding to pursue a solo career. It is rumored that Chamkila was happy enough writing songs, but he wasn’t earning enough money to look after his family, so had to start singing.
He was married to Gurmail Kaur. He had two daughters, Amandeep Kaur and Kamaldeep Kaur. Kamal has gone on to follow her father’s footsteps by becoming a singer. She has released albums of her own, some of which contain unsung but written lyrics by her father.
Discography

Chamkila’s recordings on the HMV music label have been recompiled for release on CD by Saregama. The following albums are available:

* Jija Lak Minle

* Hikk Utte So Ja Ve

* Lak Mera Kach Warga

* Mitra Main Khand Ban Gai

* Sharbut Vangoo Ghut Bhar Laan

* Bhul Gai Main Ghund Kadna

* Yaad Aave War War (This album containing seven unreleased songs, was released just after his death)

* Baba Tera Nankana (religious)

* Naam Jap Le (religious)

* Talwar Main Kalgidhar Di Haan (religious) Chamkila and Amarjot sang only the title song on this album

Death

Having arrived to perform in the famous pind of Mehsampur, Punjab, both Chamkila and Amarjot were gunned down by AK47′S along side Gill and other group members as they exited their vehicle on March 8, 1988 at approximately 2 o’clock. A gang of terrorists shot several rounds fatally wounding the couple and other members of the entourage.