Director
Imtiaz Ali
discussed the creative nuances behind his latest film, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, shedding light on innovative choices such as fourth wall-breaking
musical numbers
, split-screen montages, and on-screen translations of Punjabi songs.
In an interview with NDTV, Imtiaz revealed that some of these ideas originated from composer AR Rahman‘s insights.
Rahman advocated for a celebratory tone despite the tragic backdrop of Chamkila’s life, suggesting a musical theatre approach to the song sequences. Imtiaz stated, “It was a compulsion to break the grammar”. He further explained the use of animation to depict sensitive moments, such as celebrations turning into accidents.
Imtiaz elaborated on the creative decisions made during the process. For example, the scene where the roof breaks and the women fall presented a challenge. While it signifies the artist’s success, it also implies pain for the women involved. To avoid depicting this realistically, they opted for animation. Additionally, although smoking is typically absent from his films, it was crucial to portray Chamkila smoking in this particular film. Imtiaz utilized animation again to address this, aiming to discourage smoking among viewers.
Imtiaz Ali addressed the language barrier for Hindi-speaking audiences by incorporating superimposed text on screen to aid comprehension of Chamkila’s original songs. He credited AR Rahman with the concept of breaking the fourth wall in the musical sequences, explaining that Rahman suggested a musical theatre approach to engage viewers unfamiliar with Chamkila. In the Baaja song, characters speak directly into the camera, providing various perspectives on Chamkila’s identity.
Imtiaz emphasized the strategic use of real-life photos and archive footage to immerse viewers in the authenticity of Chamkila’s story. He described how, during filming, the cast and crew, including Diljit, Parineeti, himself, and the cinematographer, felt the reality of the events. Imtiaz aimed to convey this sentiment to the audience through the periodic appearance of photos and album covers. These elements served to affirm the existence of Chamkila and Amarjot, continually grounding the audience in the story.
Addressing the recurring imagery of Chamkila and Amarjot’s dead bodies, Imtiaz elucidated the juxtaposition of happiness on screen with the harsh reality of their demise. He explains that they continuously cut back to the depiction of the deceased bodies because, despite the joyful narrative in the film where a boy meets a girl, in reality, both individuals are deceased. Meanwhile, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ premiered on Netflix on April 12, receiving favorable reviews.
Laugh riot alert! Hilarious Guess Who chit game featuring director Imtiaz Ali and ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’
