Movies
Kannada film starring Esha Deol enters Oscars race in mainstream awards
NEW DELHI: Though the Marathi film Court by Chaitnya Tamhane has been selected as the official entry for the Best Foreign language film category race in the Academy Awards, south Indian director Kishan Srikkanth’s film Care of Foothpath 2 (Kill them Young) in Kannada starring Esha Deol has made a ‘lateral’ entry.
Srikkanth is known as the boy who features in the Guinness book of records for being the youngest director of a feature film at the age of nine years.
The movie is an action film, based on the story of four slum teenagers who are believed to be criminals. Srikkanth spent two years researching juvenile crime for the movie.
Explaining the ‘lateral’ entry, Srikkanth says that he wants the film to compete in that category so that he can seek awards for technicians and actors, like Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor in a leading role, Best Adaptive Screenplay etc. under the guidelines of Academy Awards.
The film also fulfils intricate technical specifications with regard to the quality of sound, picture, and such other parameters, which they adhered to while shooting the movie. The Academy loves films, which have unique scripts and different and follow high creative standards.
Srikkanth said, “We are thankful to Esha. We approached her for the challenging role of an advocate, who specialises in juvenile crime. She absolutely loved the concept and came onboard. She was so supportive. The film is a sequel to my 2006 film, which deals with juvenile delinquency. We got in touch with the Academy a year and half ago who explained to us that besides our creative script, the strict standards and technical specifications.”
“The film has to be released in the US with all publicity in the mainstream media and get it reviewed and rated. We would be releasing the film in October in Los Angeles, and have earmarked a budget for the same,” he added.
Besides Deol, the film also stars well known TV artiste Avika Gor. Srikkanth hopes that with his film, the flood gates will open for Indian made films in the mainstream category for the Academy Awards.
Movies
Tamil film Made in Korea tops Netflix global chart, storms 24 countries
Cross-cultural drama races to No.1, marking a global breakthrough for South Indian cinema
MUMBAI: A Tamil tale has gone global at speed. Netflix’s Made in Korea has shot to No.1 on its Global Top 10 Non-English Films list, trending across 24 countries within days of release.
Premiering on March 12, the film, directed by Ra.Karthik and starring Priyanka Mohan, is the only South Indian title to claim the top spot across both licensed and Netflix original films, underlining the growing global pull of regional Indian cinema.
The story, which follows Shenba’s journey from Tamil Nadu to Seoul, has struck a chord for its emotional warmth, scenic visuals and cross-cultural appeal. Early word-of-mouth has powered its rapid climb, turning a modest release into a global talking point.
Monika Shergill, vice-president, content, Netflix India, said, “We are proud that a story like Made in Korea has become the first ever film from our south slate to land at the No.1 spot on our Global Top 10 Non-English Films list. It reaffirms our belief that there is so much more from India for the world to discover and embrace. This film stands out for blending two distinct cultures into one powerful story that explores universal emotions of love, friendship, belonging and family. At Netflix, we remain committed to championing authentic, locally rooted stories and it’s incredibly exciting to see a film like this travel so widely and connect with audiences around the world.”
Priyanka Mohan called the moment deeply personal. “Moments like these are what every artist truly hopes for. We always strive to give our best, but some films become very special in our journey as performers, and Made in Korea is one of them for me. Shenba is a character that touched my heart from the moment I read the script, and bringing her story to life has been incredibly meaningful. Working with Ra.Karthik sir was a wonderful experience. He has such clarity and sincerity in the way he tells stories. I’m also grateful to our producer Sreenidhi Sagar sir and the entire team for their constant support. And of course, my heartfelt thanks to Netflix for giving this story such a wonderful platform and helping it reach audiences everywhere.”
Ra.Karthik struck a similar note. “There are certain films you make with complete faith in the audience, believing they will connect with the emotions you are trying to convey. It is truly heartening to see Made in Korea trending on Netflix and receiving such encouraging responses from viewers, not just in India but across the world. Priyanka Mohan brought incredible dedication and sincerity to Shenba’s character, and that commitment reflects beautifully on screen. I’m grateful to producer Sreenidhi Sagar for trusting this story and to Netflix for providing such a wonderful platform for the film to reach audiences across countries.”
As the film continues to travel across borders, its success signals more than just a hit. It marks a shift, where local stories, told with authenticity, are no longer confined by language or geography. In the streaming wars, the South is not just rising. It is rewriting the script.
