It was precisely two years in the past when the euphoria of ‘Naatu Naatu’ had consumed the West. It nearly felt like a scene out of RRR the place foreigners had been asking one another ‘What’s Naatu?’ but, dancing to it like they had been at a single display screen theatre in Hyderabad. The music grew to become larger than the movie and Indian cinema, which proudly boasts about its tune and dance tradition, had its second on the worldwide stage. Now, in 2025, India can have its second once more with Payal Kapadia’s All We Think about As Gentle. However, whereas the viewers and so-called cinema specialists had been debating if Laapataa Girls was the appropriate selection for the Oscars, nobody actually mentioned if Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Amar Singh Chamkila had the potential to be the movie that represents India, and this was maybe a missed alternative.
The thrill of watching ‘Naatu Naatu’ on the Oscar stage was sufficient for us to stand up at an ungodly hour so think about the anticipation if Diljit had been to carry out there. 2024 was undoubtedly the 12 months of Diljit Dosanjh on a worldwide scale. His second within the worldwide enviornment began with Coachella in 2023 and continued along with his Dilluminati tour in 2024. He offered over 7 lakh tickets all over the world and resellers in North America even offered his present’s ticket at a staggering Rs 54 lakh. His reveals in India noticed folks spending plentiful cash to observe him dwell in motion, and most of them had an unforgettable expertise. Diljit is aware of how you can hypnotise a stadium stuffed with followers in order that they cheer for him, and with him, however he additionally is aware of how you can sprinkle some magic when he’s on display screen and that’s what he did with Amar Singh Chamkila.
Diljit’s efficiency in Amar Singh Chamkila was one of the vital mesmerising movie-watching experiences of 2024. And if one had been to bundle this movie for a world viewers, it had every part going for it. The story of a real-life musician from rural India who survived casteism, riots and communal stress, and managed to attain the standing of Punjab’s Elvis Presley solely to be shot by unknown assailants on the age of 27. The story offered by Imtiaz Ali was in contrast to any typical biopics that we have now seen in mainstream motion pictures and the musical type of the movie took it a notch increased than a daily tune and dance movie. It was the type of desi expertise that reveals the tradition of India however doesn’t brush the uncomfortable truths beneath the carpet. The risky period of the Eighties, the social injustice, and even the hypocrisy of the society; every part finds a spot on this musical.
ALSO READ | Biopic ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’: Meet the ‘Elvis of Punjab’, who was killed on the age of 27
Amar Singh Chamkila was a Netflix product, which implies that the movie might have had worldwide illustration by an organization that’s recognized for its deep pockets, and has a historical past of pushing non-English content material onto the worldwide platforms. A month after this movie’s launch, Netflix tried to push Heeramandi as the subsequent large factor from India as they hosted its premiere in Los Angeles. A few months after the movie’s launch, Diljit was touring within the US, the place he additionally carried out on Jimmy Fallon’s late-night present, which was one other historic second for an Indian artiste. Whereas he was there for his tour, one wonders why Netflix didn’t seize the chance to construct him up as a worldwide triple menace who can truly promote packed stadiums. Furthermore, in addition they had AR Rahman on board for this movie, who has beforehand gained an Oscar, so they may have positioned it as an Indian musical expertise.
It’s considerably surprising that Amar Singh Chamkila wasn’t even on the checklist of 29 movies submitted to the Movie Federation of India which lastly selects the Indian submission for Oscars. This was the pool that had movies like Animal, Kalki 2898 AD and even Chota Bheem And The Curse Of Damyaan, however Amar Singh Chamkila was lacking right here. After all, one of many standards for eligibility for Academy Awards is that the movie should have a theatrical launch for per week, which wasn’t the case right here; however the makers might have made it occur in the event that they positioned the movie as a contender for Oscars. If, like Payal Kapadia’s movie, this was snubbed by the FFI, they may have nonetheless been within the competitors independently.
ALSO READ | Diljit Dosanjh’s untold story: Son of a Punjab Roadways driver who minimize his first album at 16; introduced Punjab to Coachella and the world
In an interview with Movie Companion, whereas selling Amar Singh Chamkila, Diljit got here throughout as a humble artiste who surrenders himself to his director and doesn’t have an evidence for his course of. He implied that he couldn’t write a thesis explaining his preparation for the function, however he might carry out with utmost sincerity. He additionally mentioned that he doesn’t see himself as an actor, however as a musician, and this was maybe one thing that pushed him to play Chamkila in a manner that it doesn’t even really feel like one is watching a efficiency.
Diljit, and his followers, had a beautiful 2024 and if he was the artiste who was on the Oscars stage representing India, it might have been a cherry on the cake. Maybe, that’s subsequent on his checklist!
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