‘Mela Chamkile Da’ gaining popularity
Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, March 9
“Mela Chamkile da” was organised at Dugri village cremation ground in the memory of renowned singer and lyrist Amar Singh Chamkila.
The fair, which is being organised for past several years, is now gaining popularity among the masses. Music lovers and fans of Chamkila come from all over Punjab to participate in the fair.
A cultural programme was also organised and a number of singers including Jaiman Chamkila, son of Amar Singh Chamkila, Davinder Dialapuri, Dalbir Singh Kaler, Surjit Sadik, Kamal Chamkila Beera Rayian Wala performed.
Amar Singh Chamkila is known for indecent lyrics or lyrics with dual meaning and was the most-popular singer in the mid 1980s. He was killed by Khalistani militants on March 8, 1988, at Mehsampur village of Jalandhar district, blaming him for polluting social relationships with his songs.
His friends, family members and fans were seen discussing his humanitarian nature, style of singing, understanding of rural folk and powerful lyrics.
Beera Rayian Wala, a singer and fan of Chamkila, said: “Earlier, were only friends and family members of Chamkila used to gather to remember him on his death anniversary. But now, the fair is getting popular. We have to arrange a separate pandaal. A number of NRIs and fans from other states visit during the fair.
Jaiman Chamkila, son of Amar Singh Chamkila, said: “There is no decrease in fan-following of Amar Singh Chamkila even 29 years of his death. People from different regions of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan come to participate in the fair.”
Famous across the border too
The popularity of Chamkila is not only restricted to Eastern Punjab. Chamkila’s fans can be seen in Western Punjab as well.
Sarmad Aziz, a music lover from Rahim Yar Khan (Western Panjab), said he started listening to songs of Chamkila a few years ago and found that he was most creative, bold singer having concerns with Punjabi language and culture.
“Not only this, he had excellent command over Punjabi language. I love his songs,” he said.
