‘Kanneda’ Web Series Review – A One-Dimensional and Dull Watch

By Shantiswarup Tripathi

• Rating: 2 Stars
• Producer: Jar Pictures
• Writer: Chandan Arora
• Directors: Sandeep Jain, Hardik Kaushal, Chandan Arora
• Cast: Parmish Verma, Arunoday Singh, Ranveer Shorey, Zeeshan Ayyub
• Duration: 31 to 43 minutes per episode, eight episodes (approximately 4.5 hours total)
• OTT Platform: Jio Star

In the 80s and 90s, news often surfaced about the constant clashes among the Punjabi community in Vancouver, Canada, where a large number of Indians, particularly Punjabis, resided. This cultural divide in the city gave rise to tensions between ‘Canada’ and ‘Kanneda,’ based on the ongoing racial discrimination faced by the community. The community was often referred to as "Desis" in everyday parlance. For many, Canada became the land of prosperity, but the perspective on this land is quite clear from the series. Writer and director Chandan Arora focuses on the darker side of the story, depicting the Punjabi community’s involvement in drug trafficking, arms, and violence, leaving the audience with very little to engage with beyond these themes.

Story

The story is set exclusively in Vancouver, Canada. Nirmal Chahal aka Nimmma (Parmish Verma) has a troubled past and a passion for rapping in the early 90s. His music is loved by many, and he aspires to build a career in the music industry. Nimmma collaborates with Daljeet (Aadar Malik) to create music, and he starts a romance with Daljeet's sister Harleen (Jasmine Bajwa). He dreams of securing a scholarship and actively participates in sports. However, his college friend, driven by jealousy, frames him in a drug case. Nimmma, ambitious and fearless, believes that money can make everything possible. After being released from jail, he joins a Canadian drug dealer, Sarabjeet Singh Randhawa (Arunoday Singh). He soon meets a politician, Ranjit Bajwa (Ranveer Shorey), who has connections with Sarabjeet. Ultimately, Nimmma abandons his dreams and succumbs to his circumstances, leading to the inevitable consequences of his wrongdoings. The entire story is narrated by an Indian narcotics officer in Vancouver, Sanjay (Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub), who closely watches every move of Nimmma and Sarabjeet but falters when dealing with personal family dynamics.

Review

Chandan Arora, who also wrote the script and dialogues, fails to deliver on several fronts. He made his directorial debut under the mentorship of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma in 2003 with Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon, a film that was a commercial disaster. Later, he directed Main, Meri Patni Aur Woh (2005) and Striker (2010), both of which failed to make a mark at the box office. After a gap of 15 years, Chandan Arora returned with this web series, Kanneda.

Arora attempts to establish a good pace in the first two episodes but struggles due to a lack of substance, and his style feels forced. From the third episode onward, the series begins to lose its grip. Arora fails to develop the characters meaningfully, and the audience is left wondering what the writer and director are trying to convey. The series attempts to depict the challenges faced by the Punjabi community in Canada, fighting racism and struggling to establish their identity. However, Arora falls short in portraying this struggle effectively.

In one scene, Nimmma says, "I smuggle things that the government doesn’t permit, not the ones that my conscience doesn't allow." This line hints at his rebellious character, but as the story progresses, his foolish decisions unravel, making it evident that both the writer and director couldn't build his character properly. Arora’s focus remains largely on drugs, guns, and violence, with little effort put into fleshing out the nuances of the narrative. Despite a talented cast, Arora fails to tap into the actors' potential due to his weak storytelling.

Acting

Parmish Verma, playing Nimmma, effectively inspires a generation to step out of their shells as a rapper, and even in his gangster avatar, he leaves a mark with his performance. Arunoday Singh, as the strong antagonist Sarabjeet, delivers a solid performance, drawing the audience's attention with his intensity. Ranveer Shorey, playing the politician Ranjit Bajwa, does a decent job, though his character lacks depth. Jasmine Bajwa’s portrayal of Harleen feels underdeveloped, and Aadar Malik as Daljeet doesn't add much to the series. Despite the efforts of these talented actors, their characters are poorly written, and the lack of proper development makes it hard for the audience to connect with their performances.

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