I wanted Sajid to direct Amar Singh Chamkila, says Imtiaz Ali

Filmmaker and producer Imtiaz Ali revealed that he initially wanted his brother, Sajid Ali, to direct Amar Singh Chamkila.

“At first, I wanted Sajid to direct the film, and he was interested in taking on the project as well. In fact, I even sent him to Punjab for a recce. But during the COVID period, I also visited Punjab, and that visit turned out to be quite special. It impacted me in a way I didn’t expect, and I decided to direct the project myself,” he shared in an exclusive interview with Patriot.

Ali explained that he never imagined making a film like Amar Singh Chamkila. The script came to him unexpectedly. “I call it a miracle. A man named Harpreet Singh, a common man from the streets of Punjab, reached out to me through several channels. He suggested I make a film on Amar Singh Chamkila, believing that I was the only director who could do it. He pointed out that since my films have strong musical elements, and Chamkila himself was a singer, I was the perfect choice for this project,” Ali recalled.

“Harpreet had already obtained all the necessary NOCs from Chamkila’s family and others, which was a major task in itself. That’s how we proceeded with the film,” he added.

A shift in perspective

When discussing the film’s direction, Ali revealed that he initially wanted to depict the bloodshed that marked Chamkila’s life and the turbulent times in Punjab. “I wanted to show the violence because there was so much of it in Chamkila’s life and in Punjab during that period. But when I heard Punjabi songs that were full of spirit and colour. That changed my perspective,” he said.

And that’s how the movie came to focus more on Chamkila’s music and his life’s work rather than his tragic death, Ali added.

The 53-year-old filmmaker also spoke highly of Diljit Dosanjh, calling him a “man with a golden heart.” “He’s doing so well in his work. He understands Punjab and has kept its culture alive. He also kept this film alive. It was amazing and different working with him,” he shared. “Diljit is quick to make decisions, and he made up his mind about this film very quickly as well.”

Rahman’s influence

The Jab Harry Met Sejal director also recounted a memorable moment with AR Rahman, who expressed interest in composing Punjabi songs. “He was very excited about it. Rahman Sahab also suggested that we avoid making the film too sad, which I think was the best advice,” Ali said.

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He also expressed his satisfaction with the initial reception of the film when it was first screened at the MAMI Film Festival in Mumbai. “The screening was completely packed, and people were even standing to watch the film,” said Ali.

Connection with Punjab

Asked why many of his films have a connection to Punjab, Ali explained his personal attachment to the region. “I love Punjab and have a strong connection to the place. When I was writing the script for Jab We Met, I saw a Punjabi girl talking too much on a train. I always believed that Punjabi girls talk a lot. When I used to take the bus in Delhi, I would often overhear girls talking, and most of them were from Punjab,” he said, laughing.

Ali reminisced about a memorable experience while shooting Jab We Met in Nabha, Punjab. “We were filming when a drunk Sikh man started hurling abuses at us. We were shocked, not understanding what was going on. Later, we realised he was complaining that the colour of the turban wasn’t perfect. We immediately got it changed, and since then, I’ve started understanding Punjabi and speaking it too. I also developed a deeper interest in the culture,” he shared.

Storytelling and Delhi memories

Ali, who was recently in Delhi to attend the Kathakar International Storyteller Festival, was all praise for the event.

He emphasised the importance of such platforms in bringing people together. “They give us an opportunity to meet, understand, and connect. I’m grateful to everyone who made this festival a success,” he said.

Reflecting on his stay in the national capital, Ali recalled fond memories of the city. “I have beautiful memories from Delhi. I studied at Hindu College and did theatre here as well. I love visiting Delhi for cultural festivals, the food, and everything else,” he said.