CHAMKILA... THE PUNJABI TUPAC

Amar Singh Chamkila (Date of Birth: July 21, 1961) (Place of Birth: Dugri village, Punjab, India (Date of Death: March 8, 1988) (Place of_Death: Mesumpur village, Punjab, India

Amar Singh Chamkila (Punjabi: ਅਮਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਚਮਕੀਲਾ) (July 21, 1961 – March 8, 1988) was a high-profile Punjabi singer, songwriter, and musician. He is widely touted the most influential icon in the history of Punjabi music. This is an amazing feat as he sang for less than a decade. His partner in music and life was Amarjot.

Chamkila wrote his own lyrics, the majority of which were boyish, suggestive and titillating, and yet fluent, commentaries on extra-marital affairs, alcohol and drugs. The couple’s appeal grew not only in the Punjab, but they quickly raced to international stardom among Punjabis abroad. By the early 1980s, Chamkila and Amarjot had recorded hugely successful LPs on the HMV label and they toured Canada, USA, Dubai and Bahrain. They were also commonly booked for wedding parties, charging a reported Rs. 4000 per performance, an unprecedented amount for the time.

Having arrived to perform in Mesumpur, Punjab, both Chamkila and Amarjot were gunned down as they exited their vehicle on March 8, 1988 at approx. 2 o'clock. A gang of motorcyclists fired several rounds fatally wounding the couple and other members of the entourage.

No arrests were ever made with connection to the shooting and the case was never solved. The reason for the murder is the subject of speculation and is shrouded in mystery.