IMTIAZ ALI SAYS AMAR SINGH CHAMKILA WAS NOT SEXIST, DIDN’T ALWAYS OBJECTIFY WOMEN: ‘WOMEN TEASED AND POKED FUN AT MEN’

The Imtiaz Ali directorial Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, opened to rave reviews. Based on the life of legendary Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila, who was killed at the age of 27, along with his wife Amarjot Kaur, the Netflix film traces the life and journey of the artiste who was accused of singing double-meaning songs with ‘lewd’ and ‘vulgar’ lyrics. In a recent interview, Imtiaz opened up about Chamkila’s songs being ‘sexist’ and the lyrics ‘objectifying’ women. 

“For hundreds of years, not only in Punjab but also across different states of India, shaadi and sangeet songs have always been vulgar. Women are naughtier than men and their naughtiness comes through music and song which they enjoy,” the Rockstar director told Mid-Day India, stressing that it is for the audience to decide what they like and don’t.  

 

Drawing reference from the film, Imtiaz highlighted that women in Punjab who listened to Chamkila’s songs were not ‘dumb’ or ‘submissive’ and often teased men. “I would like to say that his women were not dumb and they were smarter and equally participative. In the film, they're seen teasing the men and poking fun at them,” he added

Citing the example of the song "Patt Deon Chugath Ni" which features in the biopic, he said, “When an old man says he is young and virile, the woman takes a jibe at him. It is not like the women were always being objectified. They’re equal in relationship. He (Chamkila) might be saying things that were not acceptable to society but he was not a sexist kind of a person. He was quite liberal in his way. You must have noticed that even during the performances, it was the woman who was teasing the man first. His and Amarjot’s songs were more of play-acting.”

Following the release of Amar Singh Chamkila, the makers unveiled a powerful clip from the film depicting a journalist confronting Chamkila for his sexist songs that objectify women. The scene begins with Chamkila avoiding eye contact with a female journalist because of her Western attire. After learning about Chamkila’s discomfort, the journalist calls out his hypocrisy, highlighting how his songs portray women in a derogatory manner. Chamkila, however, defends himself and his songs and says, “I have only seen all this and heard all of these things growing up. Not everyone can afford to think right and wrong. Some people just have to survive. I am a very ordinary man. I have to make the songs that people will like otherwise my career will be over.” 

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2024-04-23T16:22:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd