“For Here Or To Go?” which will be released on March 31, is a penetrating look into the multitude of issues most immigrants, even skilled workers face as they adapt to the new country. How important life decisions of love, marriage and which continent to call home, hang in limbo, of loving parents with high expectations, different generational experiences even one’s sexuality, all are being treated in its perfection.
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At a time when the fate of H1-B visas, building border walls, and hate crime occupy the minds of many Indian-Americans and most Indians aspiring to live in America, here’s a movie for that.The movie humanizes with spoonfuls of humor, the complex connections between the personal and the political.
Those who made the movie hope it leads to a national conversation and hopefully, a more sympathetic understanding on the situation of high-skilled immigrants coming to America.
The synopsis
American in mind and Indian at heart, a young and ambitious Silicon Valley software engineer Vivek Pandit, loses his opportunity for a promising job in a healthcare start-up, when they realize that his work visa has less than a year remaining. The story moves with Pandit as he battles forces beyond his control to get his visa extended and learns of the varied struggles of his own roommates and those around him. Pandit is played by Ali Fazal (Furious 7, 3 Idiots, Bang Baaja Baaraat, Always Kabhi Kabhi, Fukrey, Sonali Cable, and upcoming films Khamoshiyan, and a U.K. production with Judi Dench, Victoria and Abdul).
While addressing the micro and macro issues from being the first generation American or gay, to cultural displacement, globalization and American competitiveness, this 105-minute movie is as ambitious as its protagonist.The film mirrors the experiences of first-time filmmakers – Director Rucha Humnabadkar (Hyderabad Blues, Rockford, Bollywood Calling), and Rishi Bhilawadikar, screenwriter and producer.
“For me it is a personal journey reflected on screen,” said Hyderabad-born Humnabadkar. Meanwhile, in India the landscape has changed over the last few decades with many more opportunities opening up for women and youth. “I wonder if I would leave (India) now,” Humnabadkar contemplated.
“This is where the drive and imagination (of immigrants) meets the democracy of ideas,” Humnabadkar said.
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“I felt somebody should make a film about the contributions Indians have made, going into various societal avenues – from leading Google to small pop-and-mom stores, creating more jobs etc.,” Bhilawadikar said.
“Stories have the power to transform people,” Humnabadkar said. Ultimately, “This film is for people other than the Indian community to see the challenges some immigrants face – immigrants on temporary visas who like millions of others, power the American technology industry but lack any proper political or media representation, the movie-makers say. Now they have it on film.”
By Premji
