Kanneda se Canada ki doori–the title of the last episode aptly describes the web series Kanneda. Singer Parmish Verma, of Gaal Ni Kadni fame, veteran actors Ranvir Shorey, Arunoday Singh, and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub star in a power-packed yet emotionally charged series. Directed by Chandan Arora, the eight episodes of Kanneda show the life of aspiring rapper and drug trafficker Nirmal Chahal aka Nimma. While the names and characters are fictitious, the story is inspired by true events of the 1990s in the Punjabi community in Canada. The eight-episode web series is streaming now on JioHotstar. Here is our review of Kanneda.

Kanneda web series: The plot

Set in the ’90s in Vancouver, Canada, Kanneda highlights the reality of thousands of Punjabi Sikh families in the country. Many left India after the horrific anti-Sikh atrocities of the mid-80s. But leaving their homes was just the beginning of their struggle. The immigrant families faced racism in their new hometowns and had to work twice as hard as their white counterparts in any career they chose. So, it’s no surprise that crime found its way to the Punjabi diaspora and wreaked havoc on many families.

The story of Kanneda follows a similar trajectory. Parmish Verma plays Nimma, an academically strong brown boy in Canada who just wanted the same opportunities as the white boys in his school. However, Nimma’s chance at a Masters degree is snatched from him when he is framed for drug possession. He then gets together with his friend Daljit (Aadar Malik) to become a Punjabi rapper at a time when Punjabi music was still largely unheard of in the global music industry.

While trying to make a quick buck to fund his music career, Nimma meets Sarab (Arunoday Singh), one of the biggest drug traffickers in Vancouver. Nimma soon becomes Sarab’s golden boy and finds out how deep the drug nexus goes in the Vancouver police and among the city’s politicians.

Kanneda review: The cast and their gripping performances

Kanneda is one of those select few web series that holds your attention from the first episode to the last. The plot may seem predictable to you at times, but that’s where the actors come in. Parmish Verma is more than convincing as Nirmal. He makes you feel every emotion through his performance – the resentment built up over decades, the desperation for his loved ones, and the heartbreak he goes through at every turn. Not to give any spoilers, but Parmish’s performance in the last episode of the series will give you literal goosebumps.

Arunoday Singh is terrifying as Sarab, the gangster, and almost endearing as Sarab, the flawed human. His towering physique, of course, works to his advantage in his role in Kanneda. But it is also his menacing expressions, caught perfectly by the camera and lighting, that really drive Arunoday’s performance home.

Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, as police officer Sanjay Rawat, is entertaining to watch but his past work is proof that he could’ve done more in this role. Ayyub is also the narrator of the story. More than his physical presence in Kanneda, it is his voice that makes a significant impact on the viewing experience. We do get an insight into the police officer’s troubled personal life but the story of Sanjay Rawat feels incomplete when Kanneda ends.

Jasmin Bajwa plays Harleen, Nimma’s love interest and his friend Daljit’s sister. She doesn’t have much screen time in Kanneda but when she does, Bajwa is pleasant to watch and brings a new side to Nimma’s story. Aadar Malik, as Daljit, has his moments in the series and aptly personifies the confused, scared friend of a gangster. Ranvir Shorey, as politician Ranjeet Bajwa, is fun to watch especially when his character takes a dark turn.

Unlike most other web series, Kanneda boasts of a strong background score, all thanks to Parmish Verma. Enjoy the music but listen to the lyrics to really get into the angst of the characters of Kanneda.

Can you watch Kanneda with family? If profanity, drug use and moderate violence is okay with your family, go ahead. There are no scenes of excessive gore  or intimacy, except a short kiss here and there, to make you uncomfortable.

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