'Hisaab’ is not just a video, it is an effort to provide an expression to the emotions experienced by every immigrant who is far away from home and hearth. It is about the people who can only see their loved ones through the glossy screens of their laptop in HD quality, but not in reality.
Day on ensues a continuing struggle for this Punjabi that no one explicitly talks about, but everyone knows. For an outsider, this "Canada wala" has a sparkling personality and everyone is wowing at him. He is the envy of his friends and pride of his father's eyes. But, only a few understand that he is not there to see either of these.
While his family back home is trying hard to manage themselves without them, this Canada wala is trying to keep his end of the bargain. He is working hard, day on, without expecting anything in return, but just the love of his family in his heart and that is what keeps him going. He knows that sweet words and assurances do not pay for the bills. His incessant hard work is in the pursuit of creating a comfortable home for his families, both back home and his own household. His own dreams of success, fun and fame have long been eluded and shredded.
The only goal is never to have to say no to his parents or kids. To be able to fulfill every demand and wish that comes out of their mouth. His own longing, his wish to go back to those old days, to the same old home and the walls, with family and away from this incessant strife of life has long disappeared.
He only knows to work constantly without breaks. While his friends and family in India are enjoying festivals, the uproar of festivities in whole neighborhood. He is staying away from all this, in a neutral atmosphere, he is somewhere getting ready for his work, its just another day for him. Its not diwali here that he could celebrate with his family or holi that would drench his kids in colors. Sadly, they might never know what it is like to be a part of a complete family and neighbnorhood where evey home in the street is your own.
His concerns have been limited to the well being of both the families, of the pending rent, grocery bills, school fee and the money to be sent home. Over a period of time he has programmed just to provide for his kids and his family back home. But what about him. This man so called ‘Canada Wala’ also need some life. What he need is emotion, celebrations, love, freedom from round the clock work.
All the while dreaming still, that maybe, maybe next year things will be different. He will travel back home to celebrate with family and be a part of their celebrations. But, had it been so easy no one would ever miss Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, holi or most vitally, being a pat of the family.
‘Hisaab’ is the story of every Punjabi who made his home in some other land away from motherland. It is shot in Montreal , Canada . It has sprouted from the pen of Johny Hans and Ashish Thind's debut direction project under the Lensation films has visualized the plight of every immigrant. Kudos to the entire team. It is an effort to voice out the constant hope that someday they will be reunited with the friends, family back home and things will go back to the way they were, as always.
By Onika Singh
