K-DRAMA CRAZE CONQUERS OTT
Audiences around the world are falling in love with Korean stories, artists, K-dramas culture, and India is no exception. We explore why Indians are fascinated by and
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
T hese days, when it comes to entertainment, OTT is all that anyone hears and talks about. The volume of content consumption on OTT has gone through the roof and other than Hindi, English and regional languages, audiences have taken a special interest in South Korean content, especially Korean dramas or Kdramas. Squid Game, the South Korean dystopian drama, is the most recent example of this craze. It has been devoured by audiences in over 90 countries and has drawn over 111 million fans worldwide.
Filmmaker Milap Zaveri feels that “Korean DNA is very Hindi or Bollywood-ish”. Analysing the appeal of Kdramas, he adds, “Squid Game is a phenomenal show and the whole world loves it. K-dramas thrive on emotion, heroism, rage and family. They are almost like our Indian content except we have songs and dance. They are ‘filmy’ in
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Vincenzo general, but of course.” Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who directed the Salman Khan-starrer Bharat (2019), which was based on the 2014 South Korean film Ode to My Father, agrees, “I think Korean and Indian cultures have many similarities, especially family values, which is why they connect with Indian audiences. Moreover, their quality of content is superior and the stories are ahead of time yet relatable. All these points attract audiences.”
Since 2016, OTT platform Netflix has introduced over 80 original Korean shows and films. Talking about why Korean stories are relatable to Indian audiences, a spokesperson from the web platform says, “People are inherently culturally curious, intrigued by stories from around the world. The evergrowing fandom of Korean stories and characters in India is a testament to that. The viewing for K-dramas on our platform in India has increased more than 370% in 2020 over 2019.” Several celebrities, too, enjoy Korean movies and series. Actor Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya says, “Their (Korean makers’) creativity is not limited.
If we were to make something like that, we would fit the plot in our set template, ek his dharra hota hai hamara. But they go beyond Hollywood too, at times.” Eijaz Khan, who loves K-dramas thrillers, feels, “They have a different flavour and are very sensitive while depicting relationships. Actor Pavitra Punia reveals that her friends introduced her to Korean dramas and before she knew it, she was binge-watching them all. She shares, “I am currently watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha. The subject, story and cinematography are just superb.” Actor Deepika Singh, too, agrees that K-dramas not only have exciting plotlines but are well-made too: “I love their stories and plots. My favourites are It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Kingdom.”
◄ It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Above: Kingdom Right: Crash Landing on You