SERIES REVIEW: KANNEDA

Actor and singer Parmish Verma captivates you as the 90s drug boss and underdog "Kanneda" of the Punjabi immigrant Nimma, who encounters racism and is compelled to join Sarab's gang.

Although he climbs swiftly, their dominion is in danger from Rawat's mole. Gang conflicts break out, requiring Nimma's fervent allegiance. Nimma survives an attack because Sarab's arrest leaves her defenseless. Addiction, betrayal, and a coma ensue. After Sarab flees, he and Nimma engage in a vindictive altercation that is furled by turmoil and loss. The plot of Parmish Varma's "Kanneda," which examines Indian Punjabi immigrants in Canada, revolves around Nimma's transformation from an underdog to a drug boss. Arunoday Singh and Ranvir Shorey portray formidable adversaries.  

The native Canada and the Kanneda of the Indian Punjabi immigrants are the two Canadas in the globe. 'Kanneda', Parmish Varma's most recent show, exposes the sharp contrast between the two and what occurs when the distinction between them begins to fail.

 In addition to the scars from the 1947 partition and the notorious 1984 riots, which confirmed their choice to relocate, there are fleeting hints of what drove first-generation Punjabis to immigrate to Canada in the 1910s. Despite not having visited India in a long time, several of the characters identify as Punjabi Canadians who maintain ties to their heritage through music and customs.

The narrative revolves around two close friends, Nimma and Daljit, their divergent decisions, and the eventual outcomes they face. Remarkably, the show acknowledges their choices and does not condemn them for them, implying the everyday bigotry they put up with, their difficulties obtaining employment, the conflicts between generations and the anguish that fuels their music.

Despite its best efforts to steer clear of clichés and remain faithful to its setting, the character development is straightforward: one bad example drowns himself in a world of crime and defends it as necessary, and another immigrant rebels but manages to follow his or her path despite the obstacles. The drug empire is beautifully detailed, but the emotions aren't that compelling.

An intriguing portrayal of a recently established Punjabi community in Canada following the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 may be found in the show. It tells the tale of Verma's Nirmal Chahal, also known as Nimma, who is bold, unrepentant, ambitious, and the type to envision the greatest aspirations in order to attain unimaginable achievement. The core of Nimma's identity in Canada in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Indian Punjabi community was still fighting against racism, for equal opportunity, and in light of the country's rising violence, is his belief that anything is possible if you have money.  

Despite the fact that Sarabjit isn't as well-developed as one may think, Arunoday Singh portrays the infamous character with ruthless honesty. Playing the part of a calm yet dedicated cop, Zeeshan Ayyub keeps choosing parts that broaden his acting repertoire. Although he has performed better in roles than Bajwa, Ranvir Shorey still maintains control over the pitch of his character. Others, such as Himanshi Choudhary, Navdeep Monga, and Jasmin Bajwa, play their roles with a noticeable level of sincerity.

The tracks are mediocre, despite Kanneda offering enough of opportunity to make a musical impression. However, the background music has just the proper amount of tension and understated urgency to propel the action. The show benefits from Rajeev Ravi's cinematography, which uses a subdued color scheme. The narrative is dispersed throughout, making it impossible for the audience to form an emotional bond. Pruning the approx three to four hour runtime would be beneficial.  

The eight-episode series, which mostly centers on the fallout from Nimma and Sarabjit's feud, is heavy on frantic action and exaggerated emotion. Mostly exalted and impossible to be virtuous, Nimma lacks the facets that could have made him less heroic and more relatable.

Full Episode Series of "KANNEDA" is available to stream on Jihotstar. Set in Canada in the 1990s, a Punjabi immigrant uses his music to combat racism until his ambitions lead him into the dangerous world of gangs.

To watch Kanneda is available only on JioHotstar.

CORE TEAM

Ajay Rai, Mohit Chhabra, Thinking Hats, and Omjees Cine World are the producers. Parmish Verma, Zeeshan Ayyub, Chandan Arora, Ajay Rai, Mohit Chhabra, Thinking Hats, Omjees Cine World, Kanneda,

Reviewed by

Suyash Pachauri