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Amar Singh Chamkila Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 4 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth21 July 1960

Age27 (at time of death)

BirthplaceVillage Dugri, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

ProfessionSinger, Songwriter, Musician, Music Composer, Stage Performer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAmarjot; Gurmail Kaur

FamilySix children (including Jaiman Chamkila and Kamandeep/Kamal Chamkila); parents Hari Ram Singh and Kartar Kaur (both deceased)

Amar Singh Chamkila Biography

Amar Singh Chamkila was a prolific Punjabi singer, songwriter and performer whose brief but explosive career in the 1980s left a lasting impact on Punjabi,

Early life and background

Amar Singh Chamkila was born Amarjot Singh on 21 July 1960 in the village of Dugri, Ludhiana, Punjab. Raised in a conservative joint family, he attended Gujar Khan Primary School and completed schooling up to the eighth standard before leaving to help support his family. As a young man he worked in a cloth mill in Ludhiana and had originally hoped to train as an electrician, but music became his calling.

Chamkila showed an early affinity for Punjabi folk instruments and performance. He played traditional instruments such as the dhol and tumbi and began performing locally, developing skills as a lyricist and musician that would define his later stage presence.

Career

Chamkila entered the Punjabi music scene after being noticed in 1979 by established singer Surinder Shinda. He joined Shinda’s troupe and began contributing lyrics for other artists, penning songs for singers like Surinder Shinda, Jagmohan Kaur and K.S. Kooner. Working as a lyricist exposed him to the economics of the industry and eventually prompted him to pursue a career as a solo and stage performer in order to support his family.

He made his singing debut with the track "Takue Te Takua" and rose rapidly as a live performer known for high-energy shows and candid lyrics that addressed village life and social issues. Chamkila recorded both solo and duet material and performed frequently with a rotating group of collaborators, including female vocalists such as Amarjot, Surinder Sonia and Usha Kiran. On stage he favored the tumbi as a lead instrument and built a reputation as one of Punjab’s most electrifying entertainers.

Chamkila and his partner Amarjot became especially sought-after for open-air concerts and wedding performances, touring domestically and internationally to audiences in Canada, the United States, Dubai and Bahrain. At the height of his popularity he reportedly performed at an extraordinary pace—appearing on stage almost every day for a year—and commanded significant fees for live work. His catalogue included a mix of earthy folk songs, direct commentary on topics such as drug abuse, dowry and infidelity, and devotional pieces recorded with Amarjot.

Public profile

Chamkila’s plainspoken and sometimes provocative lyrics made him both immensely popular and controversial. Many of his songs were considered vulgar by critics of the time, and he received threats from militant groups who objected to his work. Despite the backlash, his fan base grew quickly; some contemporaries and later observers suggest his fame rivaled or surpassed established Punjabi legends during his brief career.

He is best remembered for the hit song "Pehle Lalkare Naal," which continued to appear in films and recordings after his death. Several of his tracks have been remixed or quoted by later Punjabi artists, and his influence is cited by a new generation of singers. Devotional numbers such as "Baba Tera Nankana" and ‘‘Naam Jap Le’’ also formed part of his recorded output and live repertoire.

Personal life

Chamkila was married twice. His first marriage was arranged; his second, to the singer known professionally as Amarjot, was a love marriage solemnized on 23 May 1983. The pair performed together until their deaths. He had four daughters and two sons; among his children, Jaiman Chamkila and Kamandeep (Kamal Chamkila) later became associated with music.

Death

On 8 March 1988, at approximately 1:40 pm, Amar Singh Chamkila and his wife Amarjot were shot dead in the village of Mehsampur in Jalandhar, Punjab, along with four members of their band, shortly before a scheduled performance. The attack was carried out by assailants on motorcycles. Chamkila was 27 years old when he died. At the time of his death, sources report he had a substantial number of songs—more than 200—that had not been officially recorded, and some posthumous releases emerged after 1988.

Legacy and influence

Although his career spanned less than a decade, Chamkila’s combination of bold lyrics and dynamic stagecraft secured him a lasting place in Punjabi music history. His songs continued to be revisited and reworked by later artists, and in 2017 both a biopic titled "Amar Chamkila" and a documentary called "Mehsampur" were released about his life. Family members and other performers have paid tribute to his work in subsequent years, underscoring his enduring influence on Punjabi folk and popular music.

Latest updates

Several of Chamkila’s children and other artists have honored his repertoire in recent years. In 2014 his daughter Kamal Chamkila recorded a tribute rendition of "Lalkara." Remixes and reinterpretations of his solo tracks have kept portions of his catalogue in circulation, and his songs continue to be sampled or echoed in contemporary Punjabi recordings.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Amar Singh Chamkila, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Yaad Aave War War

Song released posthumously in 1988

1988
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut singing with 'Takue Te Takua' and rise as a leading Punjabi stage performer
  2. Recorded popular track 'Pehle Lalkare Naal' which featured in the 1988 film Patola
  3. Performed extensively domestically and internationally; reportedly 366 shows in 365 days at his peak
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Amar Singh Chamkila born?

Amar Singh Chamkila was born on 21 July 1960.

What is Amar Singh Chamkila known for?

Amar Singh Chamkila is known for singer, Songwriter, Musician, Music Composer, Stage Performer.

What is Amar Singh Chamkila’s marital status?

Amar Singh Chamkila's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Amar Singh Chamkila married to?

Amar Singh Chamkila is publicly listed as married to Amarjot; Gurmail Kaur.