Amar Singh Chamkila and the Words of Punjabi Folk Music: Akhara, Duets, Tumbi and More
Who Amar Singh Chamkila was — born Dhani Ram in 1960, the duet singer whose stage name means "one that glitters", killed with his wife Amarjot in 1988 — and the Punjabi words of his world: akhara, duet singing, tumbi, dholki, harmonium, kali, geetkaar and lok gaayak. Plus the Netflix film with Diljit Dosanjh and the folk legends to listen to next.
Amar Singh Chamkila (ਅਮਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਚਮਕੀਲਾ) was one of Punjab's most popular folk singers of the 1980s. Born Dhani Ram on 21 July 1960 in Dugri, near Ludhiana, he took the stage name Chamkila — "one that glitters" — and became famous for duets sung live on open-air village stages called akhare, with a tumbi in his hands. He and his wife and singing partner Amarjot were shot dead on 8 March 1988 at Mehsampur, Punjab; no one was ever arrested. Imtiaz Ali's 2024 film Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh, brought his story to a new generation. Here is his story in brief and the Punjabi words of his musical world.
Chamkila at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Dhani Ram, 21 July 1960, Dugri near Ludhiana, Punjab |
| Stage name | Chamkila (ਚਮਕੀਲਾ) — "one that glitters", from chamak, shine |
| Started with | Writing songs for, and touring with, the singer Surinder Shinda |
| First album | Takue Te Takua (1980), eight duets with Surinder Sonia |
| Partner | Amarjot, his second wife and duet partner |
| Instruments | Tumbi, harmonium and dholki |
| Died | 8 March 1988, Mehsampur, Punjab, shot with Amarjot; the case was never solved |
| Film | Amar Singh Chamkila (Netflix, 12 April 2024), directed by Imtiaz Ali, with Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra |
His songs were loved for their wit and catchiness and criticised by others for their bold, double-meaning lyrics — an argument the film puts at its centre. Diljit Dosanjh was nominated for an International Emmy for playing him. We don't quote his lyrics here.
The Words of Chamkila's World
| Word | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akhara / akhare | ਅਖਾੜਾ / ਅਖਾੜੇ | a-KHAA-ṛaa | An open-air stage show in a village — a crowd, a raised platform, two singers and their band. Literally a wrestling ring |
| Duet singing | ਦੋਗਾਣਾ | do-GAA-naa | Dogana — a song for a male and a female singer, the core of the akhara |
| Jodi | ਜੋੜੀ | JO-ṛee | A pair — a singing duo; the title of Diljit's 2023 film about one |
| Tumbi | ਤੂੰਬੀ | TOOM-bee | The one-string instrument Chamkila played on stage |
| Dholki | ਢੋਲਕੀ | DHÒL-kee | Small hand drum of the folk band |
| Harmonium | ਹਾਰਮੋਨੀਅਮ | haar-MO-nee-um | Hand-pumped keyboard |
| Lok gaayak | ਲੋਕ ਗਾਇਕ | lok GAA-ik | Folk singer |
| Geetkaar | ਗੀਤਕਾਰ | GEET-kaar | Lyricist — Chamkila wrote his own songs |
| Kali / kaliyan | ਕਲੀ / ਕਲੀਆਂ | KUH-lee | A ballad verse form |
| Dhadi | ਢਾਡੀ | DHAA-ṛee | Ballad singers who perform heroic and religious stories with the dhadd drum and sarangi |
| Kavishar | ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰ | ka-vee-SHUR | Folk poet-singers who sing ballads without instruments |
| Tawa | ਤਵਾ | TUH-vaa | Old slang for a gramophone record — literally a griddle pan, for its shape |
| Shohrat | ਸ਼ੋਹਰਤ | SHOH-rut | Fame |
| Mela | ਮੇਲਾ | MAY-laa | Fair — where folk singers built their audiences |
Many of these instruments — and the dances that go with them — are explained in more detail in Bhangra, dhol and tumbi.
Folk Legends to Listen to Next
| Singer | Known for |
|---|---|
| Lal Chand Yamla Jatt | Credited with popularising the tumbi; his turban with the turla became a trademark |
| Surinder Kaur | Often called the "Nightingale of Punjab"; folk and wedding songs from the gramophone age |
| Kuldeep Manak | Celebrated for his kaliyan — folk ballads of Punjab's legends |
| Surinder Shinda | The folk star who gave Chamkila his start |
| Gurdas Maan | Folk-rooted songs with clear singing — great for learners |
| Shiv Kumar Batalvi | Poet, not singer — called Birha da Sultan, the "king of separation"; his poems have been sung by many, including in Diljit's Ikk Kudi |
Folk singers are the easiest place to start if you're learning Punjabi through music — see our step-by-step guide to learning with songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Amar Singh Chamkila?
Amar Singh Chamkila (1960–1988), born Dhani Ram near Ludhiana, was a hugely popular Punjabi folk singer known for live duets on village stages with his wife Amarjot. The two were shot dead on 8 March 1988 at Mehsampur; the killing was never solved.
What does Chamkila mean?
Chamkila (ਚਮਕੀਲਾ) means "one that glitters" or "shiny", from chamak, shine. It was a stage name — his birth name was Dhani Ram.
What is an akhara in Punjabi music?
An akhara (ਅਖਾੜਾ) is an open-air stage performance in a Punjabi village, where folk singers — often a male–female duo — sang live to big crowds. The word literally means a wrestling ring.
Who played Chamkila in the film?
Diljit Dosanjh played Chamkila and Parineeti Chopra played Amarjot in Imtiaz Ali's Amar Singh Chamkila, released on Netflix on 12 April 2024. Diljit was nominated for an International Emmy for the role.
Keep Learning Punjabi
- Learn Punjabi: Start Here — the free 30-day plan that puts every guide on this site in order, from your first greeting to reading Gurmukhi.
- Punjabi Culture and Festivals Guide — festivals and their dates, wedding traditions, Sikh basics, and the right greeting for every occasion.
Hear the Folk Songs the Way Punjab Does
Folk Punjabi is where the language sounds most like home. Alfaazo teaches everyday Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day. Free on iOS and Android.
Keep reading
Boliyan: Punjabi Folk Couplets Explained — What They Are, Famous Lines and What They Mean
Boliyan (ਬੋਲੀਆਂ) are short, witty Punjabi folk couplets sung in the gidda circle at weddings and Teeyan. How a boli works, famous traditional openings such as Baari barsi khattan gaya si and Kikli kaleer di with their meanings, the wedding song types (ghodiyan, suhag, sithniyan, jaggo songs, doli songs) and how to join a gidda circle, step by step.
How to Learn Punjabi with Punjabi Songs: A Step-by-Step Method (and Which Songs to Start With)
You can learn real Punjabi from songs — if you use them the right way. A step-by-step method: start with the hook and the title, build a word list in Gurmukhi, learn the ni/ve rule and song slang, shadow the pronunciation, and pick songs by difficulty, from slow folk and Sufi to fast bhangra and rap. Plus the dialects you'll hear and why song Punjabi differs from everyday Punjabi.
Diljit Dosanjh Song and Film Titles Explained: What Patola, Muchh, Hass Hass and 20 More Mean
What Diljit Dosanjh's Punjabi titles mean: Proper Patola (a real stunner), Patiala Peg, 5 Taara (five star), Ikk Kudi (a girl), Muchh (moustache), Hass Hass (laughing and laughing), Kinni Kinni, Naina, Sardaar Ji, Ambarsariya, Soorma, Shadaa, Honsla Rakh, Babe Bhangra Paunde Ne, Jodi and Chamkila — with Gurmukhi and the Punjabi grammar each title teaches.