Amar Singh Chamkila and Surinder Shinda are undoubtedly two of the most reknowned Punjabi artists with an undisputable legacy. Both of them are considered as legendary singers from the golden era of Punjabi music. But did you know about the relationship shared by Surinder Shinda and Amar Singh Chamkila? Shinda had taken Chamkila under his wing and made him his disciple on the word of none other than Chamkila’s close friend and dholak Kesar Singh Tikki. Yes, that's right. During Chamkila Barsi in 2022, an event in tribute to the late Punjabi Singer Chamkila, Tikki was invited onto the stage by late Punjabi singer, Surinder Shinda, where he shared this snippet:
How did Chamkila meet Surinder Shinda?
Kesar Tikki said, “he came to first visit me on January 26, 1978 in Millar ganj where Surinder Shinda, Biba Satinder Sonia, Swarlita and Surjit Madhopuri were performing. Shinda was talking to Pishori Lal (a Congress member who organised the event), while he along with his friend were drinking. He said that Chamkila approached him at around 2 in the morning and asked him, “Paaji, do you play the dholak with Surinder Shinda?” He said, “Yes, of course I do.” Then chamkila said “could you please make me his disciple? (Shigird bna diyo?)” Then Tikki said to him, “what quality did you see in him?” to which Chamkila responded, “I really liked his singing. I really liked his voice.”
After this, Tikki said “Okay, then come to the Bus stand in the morning. There’s a poster advertising Surinder Shinde’s show, under it is a tea stall, there Shinda will come at around 11-12 tomorrow. There I will introduce you” Then the next morning, Chamkila arrived at around 12, where Kesar had introduced him to Shinde. Tikki had said that he had been impressed with one of Chamkila's song which went like this: “ek muth ho jo chhaddeyon, ehda chalna nhi aapna gujara, teemeya ne hoke ikathiya bhi kal dha leya chhada kirdaara” (bachelors unite or we won’t survive, married women just took down another bachelor).
Chamkila becomes Shinda's disciple
Impressed by the song, Tikki then had him meet Shinda who gladly took Chamkila under his wing. Shinda further told Chamkila that “you are my ward and you are my brother, Tikki stays here and you can stay with him as well. Tikki will teach you everything you need to know.” And the rest, as they say, is history.
Chamkila's Assassination:
On 8 March 1988 at approximately 2 PM, having arrived to perform in Mehsampur, Punjab, both Chamkila and his wife Amarjot were gunned down as they exited their vehicle. A gang of motorcyclists fired several rounds, fatally wounding the couple and other members of the entourage. However, no arrests were ever made in connection with the shooting, and the case was never solved. It has been alleged that Sikh militants were responsible.
Most recently, a biopic depicting the late singer’s life was released on Netflix on April 12, 2024. Directed by Rockstar fame Imtiaz Ali, Amar Singh Chamkila features Diljit Dosanjh, Parineeti Chopra, Apinderdeep Singh, and more in the leading roles. Amar Singh Chamkila is a true story based on the Punjabi singer's rise and the events that led to his murder in 1988.