Nimma Loharka, writer behind hits sung by Diljit Dosanjh, Amrinder Gill and Nachhatar Gill among others, dies at 48

PTC Web Desk: Renowned Punjabi lyricist Nimma Loharka, credited with writing more than 500 songs and contributing to the success of over 150 singers, has died at the age of 48. His last rites will be performed in his native village. According to family sources, his health had been deteriorating for the past several days.

Born as Nirmal Singh on March 24 1977, Nimma hailed from Loharka village in Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar. His parents, Darshan Singh and Dalbir Kaur, belonged to a humble farming family. His death has left the Punjabi music industry in deep grief.

Nimma is survived by his son, who also writes songs. In multiple interviews, Nimma had revealed that his financial condition had worsened in recent years. He said he had helped many artists achieve stardom, but very few stood by him during his final days. With the rise of gun-culture and gangster-themed music, traditional lyrical songs like his had lost buyers, something he regretted deeply. He often expressed disappointment that the industry “quickly forgets the very people who build it.”

Worked with big names of Punjabi music

Nimma’s songs helped shape the careers of several celebrated singers. Diljit Dosanjh, Ravinder Grewal, Malkit Singh, Feroz Khan, Harbhajan Shera, Nachhatar Gill, Inderjit Nikku, Amrinder Gill, Lakhwinder Wadali and Kulwinder Dhillon are among the many who rose to fame with his lyrics.

Many of his heartfelt compositions, including “Dil ditta nai si thokran lawan vaste” and “Ki samjawan ehna nain kamleyan nu”, earned him widespread recognition.

Nimma once shared that he developed an interest in songwriting while studying in Class 4. Though he could write only a few lines at that age, the creative spark had already been ignited. Belonging to a farming household, he did not inherit artistic training, but his grandfather’s love for Punjabi folktales and storytelling influenced him deeply.

While in Class 10, Nimma wrote his first acclaimed song for a religious play at school. The track, titled “Nankane Vall Jande Rahiyo,” became widely popular. With time, his writing sharpened as he read works by celebrated lyricists and listened to legendary singers.

In 1994, after completing his matriculation, Nimma moved to Ludhiana to learn music. Adjusting to life in a big city was difficult, but local singers encouraged his writing talent. He also spent time in Bharowal, the village of folk singer Didar Sandhu, which helped him polish his craft further. It was during this period that he adopted the pen name “Nimma Loharka”, Nimma being his childhood nickname and Loharka the name of his village.

In 1995, his first recorded song aired on Jalandhar Doordarshan’s show ‘Lok Rang’, sung by Harbhajan Taank:

In 2002, Nachhatar Gill’s rendition of “Asin Tere Naal Laiyan Si Nibhoun Vaaste” made Nimma a household name internationally.