- One of the most interesting aspects of the entertainment industry is the way it has evolved over the decades. Right from the times of performing arts in the form of plays, ballads, satire sessions, songs, and other forms of ancient modes of performances to the present-day modernity-defined digital evolution has achieved tremendous success in keeping the patrons informed/engaged/entertained big-time. What has been witnessed over the centuries has metamorphosed into the modern-day varieties like plays, movies, and, with the arrival of information-technology-driven digitalization endeavours, over-the-top (OTT) platforms have completely altered the way people are consuming entertainment to keep them entertained. The options available for consumption are most welcoming when looked at from any angle, you see.
PC: Achona
- Recollect how COVID-19 rendered a great fillip to digital media platforms to offer a bouquet of options for the homebound patrons across the globe. Speaking from the Indian entertainment consumers’ perspective, the pandemic-induced lockdown opened hitherto unknown mediums, including the tremendous traction gained by the OTT platforms offering innumerable options. This is where the Korean dramas gradually started gaining prominence in Indian households, I suppose. Mind you, KDramas – as they are popularly known – were available but were still far from gaining widespread acceptance among Indian patrons. However, the pandemic years opened yet another bouquet of options for exploration. And what an impression those KDramas have made since then.
PC: korea centre
- The moot point to ponder over here is what those unique selling points are that have popularized the Korean entertainment industry to such an extent that they stand at the top of the global entertainment platforms competing with the best. Allow me to take the liberty to define, from an Indian entertainment consumer’s perspective, what really makes the Korean dramas so popular here. To begin with, the taut scripts, tight editing, the content, the acting, the production values, and the canvas with which that compelling storytelling is launched are top-notch. You name any genre available, viz. crime, thriller, action, family dramas, comedy, romance, and mix-n-match, the Korean dramas score very high on entertainment quotient simply because of the way they are presented with such finesse and style. No wonder many get hooked on them big time.
PC: ThePrint
- Most importantly, what compels the Indian or, for that matter, the global audience to instantly connect with the Korean dramas is some of the most common but extremely critical components forming the overall presentation. The family values, the emotional connect, respect for the elders, emphasis on local cuisine (a ubiquitous and critical part essayed in every genre), and last but not least, the social message showcasing a strong cultural/traditional/heritage driven focus make the Korean drama feel so nearer and palatable to most of the Indians. Little wonder, as entertainment consumers, the Indian patrons have wholeheartedly embraced the Korean dramas irrespective of the genre and look forward to consuming the same with even greater interest.
