Imtiaz Ali says he had to 'break the grammar' for Amar Singh Chamika

Imtiaz Ali remarked that Chamkila's life, akin to Punjab itself, intertwines glory and violence continuously.

During an interview with PTI, the 52-year-old filmmaker discussed his first biopic Amar Singh Chamkila, stating that he had to "break the grammar" of his own filmmaking.

Expressing gratitude on receiving so much love for the film, the Love Aaj Kal director said, "I can feel the warmth and love that the audience has shown towards the film and also towards me. I don't think I've completely taken it all in."

Imtiaz also expressed confidence that he was heading in the right direction when the film's initial screening took place at MAMI in Mumbai and witnessed the theater transform into an 'akhada', reminiscent of the street concerts where Chamkila reigned as a singer.

He said, "I feel this vibe has descended upon the film and it's also getting the same response as his songs and his 'akhadas’ used to get.”

"Since this is a true life story, I decided that as much as possible, I will not manipulate the events that are being told to me... There were some compulsions. I had to break the grammar," Imtiaz added.

The film, Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Parineeti Chopra and Diljit Dosanjh was released on April 12, 2024, on Netflix.