Shabana Azmi Reviews Imtiaz Ali's Amar Singh Chamkila: I Liked It, BUT There Was Too Much Punjabi | Exclusive

shabana azmi reviews imtiaz ali’s amar singh chamkila: i liked it, but there was too much punjabi | exclusive

The most successful film so far of the month of April is not any big-screen spectacle, but an OTT feature film.

Imtiaz Ali and Diljit Dosanjh have together whipped up a frenzy of interest on the digital platform with Chamkila, although opinion on the actual calibre of the presentation is mixed.

The mighty Shabana Azmi feels Chamkila has its flaws. “I liked it very much and loved Diljit Dosanjh and also Parineeti Chopra. But there was too much Punjabi. So missed lots of the dialogue. I liked Imtiaz’s direction a lot.”

Producer and trade analyst Girish Johar liked the film, but has reservations about A R Rahman’s music. “Chamkila is one of the superlative works of Imtiaz Ali. Diljit Dosanjh is outstanding and so real! Parineeti Chopra is mesmerizing and poised. The film depicts the reality of our society of being hypocritical and selfish but that’s the way the world runs! The film definitely touches a chord, but AR Rahman falters, yet again! Only the original songs of Chamkila maintain the tempo, which Imtiaz Ali has woven brilliantly in the story. It is that one rare film which breaks your heart and heals your soul.”

Significantly the success of Chamkila indicates a move away from action in the audiences’ ambit of preference. The notable forthcoming films in the next few months all move away from the action genre: Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Do Aur Do Pyar, Heeramandi (OTT), Srikanth and Mr & Mrs Mahi.