iWorld
The dramatic rise of K-dramas
MUMBAI: Since March 2020, at least six Korean drama titles have featured on Netflix India’s Top 10 Trending list. According to a recent Netflix report, the viewing for K-dramas on Netflix in India "increased more than 370 per cent in 2020 over 2019.” So, for those of us unversed with the hype around K-dramas or even speculating whether “K-drama” is a namesake for yet another saas-bahu soap opera from Ekta Kapoor’s drama factory, maybe it’s time to dive into a bowl of ramen noodles and settle back to watch one.
With no fresh content on television for some months, thanks to the lockdown, and with a whole lot of extra time on their hands, many viewers traded the TV screen for their cell phone or tablet screens, looking for some relief from the barrage of Covid-related news. This upsurge in usage of on-demand OTT platforms during the pandemic led to an increased demand for variety content, language barrier notwithstanding. K-dramas with their feel-good storylines and safe-for-family-viewing content made for the perfect lockdown recipe when most of us were locked in with our extended families. Riding on this wave, K-dramas have had their biggest breakthrough moment in India during the ongoing pandemic, as more people found the time and inclination to explore different kinds of content.
While K-pop, as well as Korean dramas, have been a prominent part of pop culture among India’s GenZ and millennials for the last few years, it's only in the last one year that it's gone truly mainstream. Along with other cultural exports from the country like K-beauty (skincare products) and Korean food, they form a part of the Korean cultural wave, called ‘Hallyu’. So what is it that makes these dramas so binge-worthy and addictive?
Well, for starters, there is the detailing in the scriptwriting, with a focus on strong storylines having positive undertones. Although some of them can have pretty predictable outcomes, it is the conversational dialogues and natural treatment that makes all the difference. The characters are relatable, not larger-than-life with vulnerabilities one can empathise with. There is usually an underdog character one cannot help rooting for. Also, don’t get deceived by the damsel-in-distress looks of the lead women characters in the show, they may look frail but most of them are independent, fiery women who hold their own and do not hesitate to speak their mind or stand their ground when confronted. This understated emphasis on female empowerment goes a long way in making these soaps popular with their women audiences, while also making a statement for gender-equality in a positive, non-dramatic manner.
And of course, not to mention the swoon-worthy, porcelain-complexioned, picture-perfect looking actors clad in the trendiest outfits. Many of the actors from popular Korean fictional shows, including Crash Landing on You, It’s Okay to Not be Okay, Kingdom, Itaewon Class, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God etc like Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin, Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Jung Hae In, Park Joo-hyun to name a few, have become household names amongst Indian fans who swear by their Korean screen idols. The immersive plots range from adorable rom-coms to edge-of-the-seat suspense, from heart-warming, soul-satiating family dramas to intense psychological thrillers, covering a whole gamut of profound experiences- one that caters to every taste. The dramas also give us a peek into Korean culture, food and lifestyle. For instance, Crash landing On You, which deals with cross-border romance between a South Korean business tycoon and a North Korean soldier offered a heartwarming insight into the hitherto forbidden land of North Korea and the people living there.
Since Netflix first started showing Korean dramas in 2016, it has brought them to an international audience. Other OTT platforms too have caught on to this trend and many more like Disney+, HBO Max, and Apple+ are all expected to join the K-drama bandwagon. One only needs to glance at the number of Hindi dubbed versions of K-dramas on an Indian homegrown platform like MX Player to understand the size and scope of Korean content in India and its growing popularity. Hit Korean releases from 2016 like Melting Me Softly to What in the World Happened?, 1% of Something and many more have been dubbed in Hindi to cater to the increasing audience demand for Korean fare.
‘Hallyu’ or the Korean Wave is the term used to describe the spread of Korean entertainment and culture in other parts of the world. Die-hard fans of K-series pursue a range of experience, consuming Korean food like kimchi, fashion and music, even learning Korean to better understand their favourite shows; some even going to the extent of travelling to Korea for first-hand experiences of the culture and place.
The Oscar-winning 2019 Korean movie Parasite can also be credited for this new-found interest in Korean fare. It was the first film not in English to take home the top prize in the academy’s 92-year history. The film’s director Bong Joon-ho while accepting his Best Picture Oscar, spoke about “overcoming the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles” in order to be introduced to more amazing content. It holds true now more than ever before, going by the resounding worldwide endorsement and success of Korean dramas. Indians sure have broken down the “one-inch barrier” and embraced K-dramas for times to come.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
