Amar Singh Chamkila is such an incredibly made film. The Amar Singh Chamkila movie review suggests it could be one of Imtiaz Ali’s finest films. The film sucks you in right from the first scene (though the staging and editing of the opening scene could have been done a little better, it isn’t a major drawback, but it is a little jarring to see, the film has some minor errors when it comes to continuity in the blocking and staging of characters, but that is only one of the two minor problems of the film).
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Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review: Writing and Technical Aspects
The narrative devices used in the film are extraordinary. It is just so refreshing to see such innovative styles being used in the contemporary Indian space. The screenplay begins with a simple narrative device, i.e. the non-linear structure; it moves forward with interludes from past and present, but right after that, Imtiaz and Sajid Ali change the course of this narrative device, and what do we get?
We are being presented with a narrative within a narrative, and the story moves forward through a bunch of unreliable narrators who have their own thoughts and opinions on Chamkila; some are sweet, while some are incredibly sour, now this is where things become even more fascinating!
Since they’re all unreliable narrators, Imtiaz and Sajid Ali employ several narrative devices within these two layers, ranging from the characters breaking the fourth wall, there are frame freezes; there are split screens, and the concert sequences transitioning to actual photographs and footage, the film opens like a street play and moves backwards for the song Baaja, transitioning to animated sequences and then to oil painted canvases and if that wasn’t enough, the film is then narrated in comic strips at one point! And all of it has been done with immense precision without being jarring or overwhelming for even one minute! Absolute genius.
One can also love how the film, right from the onset, strikes a critical distance from the character and also constantly makes you aware that you are watching a spectacle (similar to what you may have seen in classic films like A Woman is a Woman, Persona and Blow Up). The film never portrays him as the “perfect” person, but as someone who feels he doesn’t have the moral compass or the right to deem things as “correct” or “wrong” (subtly integrating caste issues and the plight of Dalits) and for him, survival is what matters.
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Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review: Gender Politics and Commentary
The film is never disingenuous with its treatment of the characters and narrative, objectifying men and women alike. The film captures the male gaze through Chamkila’s objectifying songs, but it hits right back with the female gaze, striking the perfect balance between us as people and as a society. The socio-political turmoil surrounding Punjab becomes hauntingly connected with Chamkila’s life, so much so that Punjab starts resembling his tragic life. The film is hauntingly relevant even though it talks of events that happened some 40 years back.
Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review: Music
A.R Rahman’s music, along with Irshad Kamil’s lyrics, cast a spell over you throughout its runtime, ranging from being fun, melancholic, raunchy, sad, contemplative, accepting and sometimes pure rage, all encapsulated wonderfully in the film.
Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review: Performances
Diljit Dosanjh has wonderfully played the title role, he is very sincere with the part, you are right with him from the first frame and you do not see him as anything else but Chamkila. Parineeti Chopra has done a formidable job with her character bringing in the empathy and sensitivity that her character requires, she delivers exceedingly well.