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From The Namesake to Outsourced, films and sitcoms about immigrant Indians in the US are not a new phenomenon. But a new film on the theme is causing a stir with its subject matter.
Starring Ali Fazal (Fukrey) and Omi Vaidya (3 Idiots), For Here Or To Go? highlights the struggles by Indian immigrants who live in the US on the H1B temporary work visa and reflects on how ambition is affected by immigration status. It claims to be inspired by true immigrant stories.
The protagonist of the comedy-drama is Vivek Pandit (Ali Fazal), a young techie set to become a top hire at a healthcare startup. However, everything falls apart when the company realises that he has less than a year remaining on his work visa.
As he tries all means possible to get his visa extended, he encounters fellow immigrants who are considered temporary workers.
The film comes at a time when the US government has strongly hinted at implementing strict visa curbs to crack down on foreign workers, as the new regime pivots towards an 'America First' policy. A bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives proposing to double the minimum wage limit for highly skilled workers from abroad.
Indian IT workers would be the worst affected by this reform and tech companies are now making efforts to step up their local hiring in light of the uncertainty. But White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said recently that the US may take longer than expected to tighten the laws as it undertakes a "comprehensive" review of the policy.
The film was directed by Rucha Humnabadkar and is written by Rishi Bhilawadikar, an IIT graduate who experienced the H1B uncertainty first-hand and currently works in San Francisco as an interaction designer.
While it has received moderate reviews from the mainstream media, the film has ruffled the feathers of American right-wingers.
“The movie’s basic message is that foreigners are entitled to live in the US if they want to do so, regardless of American law or Americans’ wishes,” reads an article on Breitbart News headlined "Cheap-Labor Lobby Funds New H-1B Song-and-Dance Movie".
The H1B visas are meant for highly-skilled foreign workers, but the article says the movie offers “a very flattering image of the almost 1 million H-1B middle-skill contract-workers holding white-collar jobs throughout the United States.”
Until recently, Breibart News was headed by President Donald Trump’s Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.
The movie was released just four days before the US starts issuing H1B visas from April 3. In all, 85,000 H1B visas are up for grabs in this financial year. More than 2.36 lakh petitions were submitted last year and the recipients will be decided by lottery.
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