Lyrics, Icons, and Silence: A Semiotic Analysis of Imtiaz Ali’s Chamkila

This research paper conducts a semiotic analysis of Imtiaz Ali’s 2024 film Amar Singh Chamkila, exploring how lyrics, iconic representations, and silence function as sign systems to convey meaning, critique societal norms, and reflect the complexities of cultural identity in 1980s Punjab. Drawing on Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic framework, the paper examines the interplay of signs—lyrics as symbols, Chamkila as an icon, and silence as an index—to unpack the film’s commentary on art, caste, and social resistance. Through qualitative content analysis and close readings of key scenes, the study reveals how Ali uses these elements to navigate the dichotomy between vulgarity and authenticity, ultimately portraying Chamkila as a poet of the subaltern.