Arijit Singh’s song, Vida Karo, from the recently released Imtiaz Ali directorial, Amar Singh Chamkila, has been making fans sway with tears and compliments, but they’re unaware of the inspiration behind it.
In the film, the track played when Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra’s respective characters, Chamkila and Amarjot Kaur, were shot down at the end, seeking a very moving departure from this world.
It has been borrowed from a poem of the same name that was penned by the late Indian poet, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, whose writings delved deeper into love and existential crisis – themes that are commonly shared by most poets, such as Ghalib, Faiz, Qurratulain Hyder, Iqbal, and Hafez.
Batalvi’s writings have been translated into melodies by many singers previously.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan embraced Maye Ni Maye, Rabbi Shergill took Ishtihar, Hans Raj Hans sang Gham, Jasleen Royal was stirred by Panchee Ho Jaavan, and Jagjit-Chitra remained active fans throughout their career.
Coming back to Imtiaz Ali, he has repeatedly expressed love for Punjabi art, and seems like Batalvi is his favorite creator.
He used the writer’s broodings from Ajj Din Chhadeya Tere Rang Varga in Love Aaj Kal and Ikk Kudi the reprised version of the song in Highway.
For Chamkila, the director once again returned to the doors of his favorite Punjabi romantic. And that's where the inspiration came from.
