The anticipation of ‘Naatu Naatu’ swept throughout the West exactly two years ago. It was almost like a scene from RRR where foreigners were dancing to it while asking each other, “What’s Naatu?” as if they were in a Hyderabad single-screen theater. Indian cinema, which takes pride in its song and dance tradition, had its turn on the international scene, but the music became more popular than the movie.
With All We Imagine As Light by Payal Kapadia, India will once again have its moment in 2025. However, while the public and purported film experts discussed whether Laapataa Ladies should win an Oscar, nobody discussed whether Diljit Dosanjh’s Amar Singh Chamkila might be the movie that best embodies India. This may have been a lost chance.
Imagine how much anticipation there would be if Diljit were to perform there. The thrill of seeing “Naatu Naatu” on the Oscar stage was enough to bring us up at an unusual hour. Globally, 2024 was, without a doubt, the year of Diljit Dosanjh. Coachella in 2023 marked the beginning of his international career, and his Dilluminati tour in 2024 marked the continuation of it.
He sold over 7 lakh tickets worldwide, with resellers in North America selling his show’s tickets for a stunning Rs 54 lakh. People in India paid a lot of money to see him perform live, and most of them had a fantastic time. When Diljit is on screen, he knows how to add some magic, which he accomplished with Amar Singh Chamkila. He also knows how to hypnotize a stadium full of supporters so they cheer for him and with him.
Diljit’s performance in Amar Singh Chamkila was one of the most captivating cinematic experiences of 2024. Additionally, this movie had all the makings of a successful worldwide package. The true story of a real-life artist from rural India who overcame casteism, riots, and inter-communal strife to become Punjab’s Elvis Presley before being shot at the age of 27 by unidentified assailants.
The plot that Imtiaz Ali told was different from any typical biopic we have seen in popular cinema, and the film’s musical selection elevated it above the level of a typical song-and-dance production. It was the type of Desi experience that highlights Indian culture without ignoring the unsettling realities. Everything from the turbulent 1980s to social injustice and societal hypocrisy finds a home in this musical.
