Emergence of K- Drama in India

After months of  hard work by the seniors, things were getting quite interesting in the First Frame office and steadily the team was making way to host one of the biggest celebrations of Students' International Film- The First Frame Festival 2014! At that particular time, our film festival became stronger than ever by collaboration with Korean Cultural Center, also the official presenter of a popular Korean drama on Indian television.

This was the time when I became familiar to the term 'K-drama', living in the land of melodramatic "K" soaps ( Ekta Kapoor shows of Kyunki Saas genre) could have mistaken you, also generating some curiousity about the worldwide popularity and acclaim for the K-Dramas. Therefore, I googled the term to know more about it. 

Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries or telenovela format, produced in South Korea. The land of PSY (Gangnam Style fame) and birthplace for brands like Samsung and Hyundai likewise produces some of the interesting cult shows ( majorly falls in the genre of Romantic Comedy or History). It was then, I learnt much more about the Korean wave (Hallyu: Korean Pop Culture) that has been hitting the world.

The dramas have been slowly emerging on the television sets in the Indian subcontinent attracting the Indian viewers. The  K- drama is quite popular in North-East especiallly Manipur, because for them in the start of 21st century, a ban on Hindi films and channels was imposed. At that time, Korean industry filled the vacuum setting the scene for the entertainment for the localites. The prestigious KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) stepped in and started the broadcasting of TV dramas, which marked the beginning of Korean culture in India. Since then, the country remained an honest audience of their shows meanwhile also getting gelled with the popular US dramas and sitcoms.

I personally been an audience to just one Korean show-"Dr Hur Jun", autobiography of South Korean Doctor who faced social barriers and overcame hardships on the journey of becoming a physician. Back in 2000, when the show was transmitted in Korea gained maximum viewership and was also ranked No.3 among the maximum viewed shows. It is currently broadcasted in Hindi on DD Bharti in association with Korean Cultural Center, India. The show aims to gain the same viewership in India as well with its rich content and relatable storyline. It unveils the culture, social norms and relationships in their country which is quite similar to conditions in India. 

The poster of Korean Drama: Dr. Hur Jun

While reading about this genre, my search results were constantly hit by some of the most popular Korean shows ranging from romantic comedy to sitcoms and family dramas among many more. Hence, I would like to share a few popular shows here on the list:

1.  The Heirs (Drama/Rom-com):

 The trendy drama television series set in a high school populated by the privileged and rich, embarks their journey as they are groomed to take over their family business empires. This was the first Korean drama co-produced by American digital distribution platform DramaFever and Korean production company Hwa & Dam Pictures.

2. Boys over flowers (Drama/Comedy): 

At the prestigious school Shin Hwa High School in Seoul, four boys comprise the group known as the Flower Four who are spoilled, rebellious and powerful. A new entrant girl enters their group who slowly captures the hearts of many, even of the Flower four group. 

3. Coffee Prince (Romantic Comedy):

 One of the most popular dramas, this romantic comedy tells the story of Han Kyul, the handsome son of a wealthy hotelier family who is set in his bachelor ways and constantly deflects his family’s attempts to make him commit.

4. Secret Garden (Adventure/ Romance) : 

This quirky, high concept drama follows a neurotic businessman and a passionate stunt woman who come to possess each other’s hearts and bodies.

5. You 're beautiful ( Romantic Comedy/ Drama):

You’re Beautiful is hilarious fun with a solid grounding in romance and emotional heart. Punctuated by original music and propelled by the pitch-perfect performances, You’re Beautiful is an enjoyable romp from start to finish.

South Korea is a house to many such prime-time hit shows which are finding its way all over to India, which will then blend the culture of the two countries making their relationships even more strong. K- dramas are a cultural phenomenon, slowly taking over the youth and cinematics of the country. While exploring this genre, I found many Facebook groups and discussions panels aimed at discussing and giving opinions about this genre. 

It even inspires the fashion statement of the youth ranging from wearing bright coloured fancy clothes to aping their hairstyles (those 'Super-COOL' spikes). These dramas are slowly taking the world by storm and presently India has been hit by the WAVE...  

*This post has been written for the blogging competition being conducted by Korean Cultural Centre India, the country partners for First Frame 2014- Sixth International Students’ Film Festival organised by MBICEM.

PS: I am yet to watch the full fledged Korean dramas but while researching for this post, I gained good amount of information about the shows and its emergence at the world level. 

Also if you are crazy about these dramas and have opinions about it, HERE (in the comments box)  the discussion on the  'K-drama' is ON!

Source: Wikipedia/ Korean Bridge

To Dadi, with love!

She died young at the age of 67. She was young at heart like me but her body didn't supported well. She fought till the very last minute. It was a slow death that slowly gulped her whole. At first it was plain drowsiness, which killed her spirit towards life and then later bring her physical works at halt. She then even lost her appetite-one unusual thing being a foodie. Her muscles gave up, all being swelled up. She even couldn't perform the daily prayers, couldn't walk or answer the nature's call, couldn't eat and was bed ridden for couple of weeks. Then came another shock, she faded out on her senses and was loosing away in the deep empty spaces not even recognizing us-her family. Over the months her kidney became useless and it was just a matter of time when it reached her brain. Partially active, she laid in home two days long chanting the 'Ram-naam' after breathing and surviving in ICU machines for 6 tough long days. 

The past few years had been difficult for her with suffering from chronic disease-kidney failure that ended up in multiple complications resulting in complete body shutdown. As we were searching for answers in her treatments and medications, the disease took her over, day by day, week by week. Being treated with Dialysis and all possible nephrology treatments, her system still didn't reacted well. We tried every possible way to somehow bring her back to life and make her feel alive as she always used to. But then, she vanished somewhere deep far away all of sudden and we helplessly saw her going.

My Childhood days: My Brother, Amma, Dadi and me.

       Perfect Family: A perfect family photo on occasion of mummy's
       birthday, all those smiling faces appeared so lovely..

I was fortunate enough to have spent a lot of time alone with her, talking to her and joyfully cheering her up while helping with all I could. In those times I was able to observe sides to my grandmother’s personality that very few had experienced. In home I often found myself restless; too much relaxation got to me, maybe because I was the youngest at home and didn't have much to do.Even she used to spend quite a idle time with me- so we made a good bonding together. Those 18 years of my life I lived with her, gave me some timeless and incredible memories that won't ever fade out. 

Family:  Me, dadi ,badi amma ( front row), bhai and mummy (back row)

She was phenomenal in her own way, spreading her charm on every one she met. A soft-spoken and rebel at the same time.It was over time and much experimenting with different formats that I realized we were so attached to her. The slow, languorous passage of time at home provided a lot of leisure for spending time with her. I would find myself thinking about my grandmother’s spirit, her experiences and her zest for life.Her passion and zeal for life in every work she does-something which has a lot of importance in my life—seems to have passed on to me.

Perfect Shot: Though she didn't liked to be clicked.

At home, most of the time was spent idly as good moments or quarrels and much more, because in different moods came her best moments. Due to her diseases, she had a controlled diet filled with restrictions- like no salt, very less water and dozens of medicines. She became somewhat habitual of it with time and realisation after enough of revolts and opposition towards the restrictions. She was one extra-ordinary being with whom I shared enough of life-long memories and moments. It was in her childhood when she came close to god which then made her disciplined in form of following all the rituals and religious know-hows.Slowly she became an influential avid learner of bhajans which she used to sing to herself, those resonated through the house and even to people around her. The image of this woman was of a ferociously disciplined and strict human being who had sides that were as human as anybody else’s.

She had seen life more than me, 50 more years to be precise, so she was rigid in many ways. I realized how similar we were. We were both actually sensitive but showed ourselves to be strong. We were both stubborn and transparent. 

My grandmother was extremely independent, so when she fell sick, it was not her sickness that caused her pain, but the loss of independence. She never liked asking for help even though we wanted to make her more comfortable. An independent lady she was -making the best of time, had her own set of ideologies on which she lived till her last breath.

The Last ride: As she turned into cinders, her ashes were taken to Haridwar .

She choked to death while breathing through the oxygen mask and being fed through a tube for days. After jumping on-off from the deathbed for a week, we brought her home where we sat beside her holding her hand interpreting those eyes in silence. 

My Dadi (dadadiya) passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2013, instilling her beliefs so firm that I know now we can take on life without fear or uncertainty and live it fully, with satisfaction. I know while I gaze at the sky looking deep at the stars, I know somewhere she resides in them and showers us with the same blessing and affection. You will remain with us ever and forever... in our memories, in the goods and the bads, in all those moments we lived together, in the walks of life to come... 

For you, a thousand times over...