Imtiaz Ali Directed Diljit Dosanjh Starrer Chamkila Earns International Emmy Nods

Amar Singh Chamkila, the electrifying Netflix biopic of Punjab’s most provocative voice, has broken through to the global stage with two International Emmy nominations.

The Netflix film that premiered in 2024 about Chamkila's life, directed by Imtiaz Ali and starring actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh and Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, has earned two prestigious International Emmy nominations, rewriting the legacy of a voice long buried.

The film, which is nominated in the TV Movie/Mini-Series category, is India's lone entry at the Emmys this year. But perhaps more striking is Dosanjh’s nomination for Best Performance by an Actor, making him one of the few Indian performers to ever reach that prestigious shortlist.

“Amar Singh Chamkila is a rare film because it has to do with the scent of the land of Panjab,” Ali said in a statement. “its music, its socio-politics, its conflict,  its aspirations, and its many problems.

The fact that conflict creates art creates conflict was represented through the life of Amar Singh Chamkila in this film. We are all very happy that we could bring the story of Chamkila, such a unique individual, to the fore. The story of Amarjot and Chamkila is also the story of Panjab," he added.

Set against the volatile socio-political backdrop of 1980s Punjab, Amar Singh Chamkila tells the story of a man whose raw lyrics and magnetic voice electrified rural audiences and scandalised the establishment. Chamkila, along with his wife and singing partner Amarjot (Chopra), was gunned down in 1988 at the age of 27. Their assassinations were never solved.

For Dosanjh, who has long balanced the commercial pull of Punjabi pop with a deep connection to his roots, playing Chamkila was a spiritual alignment.

“I feel truly honoured Amar Singh Chamkila, an artist from Punjab, is being recognised and talked about at a global level on such a prestigious stage like the International Emmys. I am grateful to Imtiaz Ali sir for choosing me for the role," the 41-year-old Punjabi actor-singer said.

At the 53rd International Emmy Awards gala, scheduled to be held in New York City on November 24, the film will vie for the TV Movie/Mini-Series award alongside “Herrhausen: The Banker and the Bomb” (Germany), “Lost Boys & Fairies” (United Kingdom) and “Vencer o Morir” (Chile).

In the Best Actor category, Dosanjh faces stiff competition from David Mitchell (Ludwig, UK), Oriol Pla (Yo, adicto, Spain), and Diego Vasquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude, Colombia). But his portrayal has already struck a global chord.

Moreover, the film is a collaborative powerhouse: produced by Mohit Choudhary, Select Media Holdings LLP, Saregama, and Window Seat Films, with a soul-stirring score by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Irshad Kamil. Parineeti Chopra stars as Amarjot, adding a poignant layer of intimacy to the biopic.

Netflix India’s Monika Shergill called the nominations a “tribute to Chamkila’s enduring legacy,” emphasising the platform’s ongoing commitment to telling grounded, hyperlocal stories with global relevance. India’s growing presence at the International Emmys—following wins for Delhi Crime and Vir Das—signals not just increased visibility, but a new cultural currency. Chamkila, whose songs were once banned on All India Radio, now stands centre stage in New York. From the mustard fields of Punjab to the red carpet of Manhattan, Amar Singh Chamkila is on its for global recognition.