Based on his own and his friends' experiences, a young Indo-Canadian has made the first short feature film that addresses the difficulties faced by recent immigrants to Canada. The Shubham Chhabra-directed movie Cash Cows has already been nominated for an award at the first Sundar Prize Film Festival, which celebrates diversity and inclusivity in Canada.
The Punjabi-language project plays on recurring issues in the experience of immigrants: from five people sharing a basement apartment to employers taking advantage of immigrants' desperation to stay in Canada and obtain permanent citizenship.
Chhabra, who arrived in Canada as an international student in 2015, stated that the concept of sharing a glimpse of our lives has always existed.
Too many of us were overly hopeful and naive. He replied, "I talk to a lot of people, and they have trauma."
Despite the weighty subject matter, Vancouver-based Chhabra approaches it lightheartedly. There is humor despite the tragic nature of the event. My intention was to portray the breadth of the experience and the range of all things. He answered, "I haven't seen anything similar."
The concept also originated from a documentary that Chhabra is producing that examines related topics. He stated, "I figured I might as well make a punchy version of it." Additionally, the idea is appropriate considering the immigration debate that is presently taking place in the nation and the tales of how foreign students have turned into money makers.
In November of last year, it made its debut at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
The film is "compelling," according to Alex Sangha, co-founder of the festival, which will hold its first edition this summer, in the way it explores the moving story of an Indian immigrant's quest for the Canadian Dream while navigating the challenges of obtaining Permanent Residency and the sacrifices involved along the way. The Best Emerging Filmmaker Residency Prize has been given to it.
He continued, "Chhabra's work not only entertains but also sheds light on a pressing social issue, seamlessly fusing elements of comedy with the sobering realities of contemporary Canadian society." The organisers of Cash Cows claimed that the film follows the "journey of an Indian immigrant who falls victim to an employment scam." He has to face the real cost of his sacrifices in order to obtain permanent status and a better life.
According to him, the word "beautiful" in Sanskrit is the source of the Prize, which represents the union of social advocacy and cinematic creativity. The subject for its inaugural edition is "Celebrating Human Resilience."
