Who is an immigrant? 

Is it somebody seeking asylum or refuge to evade persecution or death in their native land? Somebody seeking a new setting to explore growth opportunities otherwise unavailable? Or someone who's just perpetually stuck in a loop of lost identity because they've had to become what they weren't supposed to be?

Title as signal

Kanneda is a foreboding yet gripping tale of Indian Punjabi immigrants in Canada - a country with which we've shared a not-so-friendly relationship in the recent past. For those in the know, the title itself serves as a potent signal — hinting at both the show's thematic core and the community it portrays. 

And for the uninitiated, it reflects the painstaking attempt of millions of families who've left India and specifically Punjab in a bid to chase the 'white collar dream'. The show is set in the 1990s and captures life in Vancouver back then.

Nimma's conflicted life

Nirmal Chahal or Nimma (Parmish Verma) brings in the main character energy across all 8 episodes of Kanneda. His life is a canvas that has everything in it - glory, despair, setbacks, comebacks. It is his story of making complicated choices to try and live an uncomplicated life - all he wants is power, fame and money! After all who doesn't?

Flashbacks reveal Nimma's had it tough in his life thus far, summarised over a tragic incident from the 1984 riots back in Punjab and the discrimination he's faced in Canada ever since as a 'curry boy' growing up. These leave a deep, damaging scar on Nimma's mental makeup that makes him feel out of place in his surroundings and fuels the Icarus syndrome within him.

Music and brotherhood

Pushed to his limits, Nimma embarks on a rat race to build a 'career' as wished by his parents; he also tries finding his feet exploring desi rap, borrowing words from his own life. Supporting Nimma as a loyal comrade is Daljeet or DJ (Aadar Malik), who runs a car wash and wants to make a mark of his own in the world of underground music. 

DJ persuades Nimma to put words to his beats and wants their music to be a story of the desis in Canada. But a stroke of misfortune finally breaks Nimma, and DJ intriguingly chooses to step aside as his friend moves over to the world of crime and eventually a point of no return.

Nimma's dark descent 

Nimma's quest to create his own future makes him befriend Harjeet (Anirudh Surya), a lieutenant of the local crime lord, Sarab (Arunoday Singh). Sarab is quick to notice the resourcefulness and potential of Nimma, and gradually trusts him to do all his dirty jobs. Sarab also has an ulterior motive in keeping his brother, Purab out of his dark world. 

History suggests that organized crime cannot thrive without involvement of the rich and powerful. Adding brains and reach to Sarab's brawn is Ranjeet Bajwa (Ranveer Shorey) who has the entire Vancouver in his pockets - be it through his reach as a first-generation entrepreneur cum a 'community leader' for local Punjabis, or his hidden identity as a mafia boss.

Power and paradox

On Sarab and Nimma's tail is Inspector Sanjay Rawat (Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub) - another desi in a position of power but shown to be using it for the right reasons. Rawat is an absent father and husband, and is also a recovering alcoholic. Interestingly he is a friend of Bajwa - guess the show writer wanted to create a contrast of sorts there.

Kanneda revolves around the criss crossing lives of all these characters and is a smooth watch from the get go. The dialogues are simple, the cinematography is okay and the soundtrack is rich if you're into Punjabi music. Perhaps what Kanneda misses out on are a couple of plot twists. But to conclude, a decent one-time watch nevertheless.