Movies
Ghotul film revives tribal wisdom to spark talks on girls’ rights and choice
MUMBAI: Silence may be golden, but sometimes it’s deafening. On the International Day of the Girl Child, UNAIDS has dropped Ghotul, a short film that whispers ancient wisdom and shouts modern truth. Drawing from the Gond Muria tribe’s age-old “Ghotul” tradition, the film reimagines how young people can talk openly about love, consent, and the right to make choices, topics often hushed in contemporary India.
Every year, 21 million girls across the globe become pregnant over 11 million of them in India. And each week, 4,000 adolescent girls are newly infected with HIV. The numbers are staggering, but the silence surrounding sex, desire, and bodily autonomy is even louder. Ghotul seeks to break this silence, spotlighting the urgent need for safe spaces where adolescents can speak, listen, and learn without shame.
In Gond culture, the Ghotul was no taboo corner, it was a communal space where elders guided youth through lessons of love and responsibility. The film revives this lost wisdom, using it as a lens to challenge the modern discomfort around sexuality and gender dialogue.
Penned by author and gender inclusion expert Shruti Johri, the 12-minute film is directed by Shashanka “Bob” Chaturvedi of Good Morning Films. The concept comes from advertising veteran and feminist Swati Bhattacharya, with cinematography by award-winning DoP Tassaduq Hussain, of Omkara and Kaminey fame. The cast includes Indira Tiwari, known for Serious Men and Gangubai Kathiawadi, alongside rising actor Puja Kulay.
“This film is about breaking that silence,” says Johri. “It’s an invitation to reimagine a world where our daughters are not guarded like clay pots but guided like rivers, free to choose, to love, and to live without shame.”
For Swati Bhattacharya, the project is about reclaiming lost intimacy in conversations: “In tribal wisdom, elders spoke freely with adolescents about love and growing bodies not to shame them, but to guide them. Today, when the internet fills that void, Ghotul reminds us to bring honest conversations back home.”
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima puts it plainly: “By knowing the facts and educating young people about their sexual health, we can help them feel safe and stay safe.”
The film has already found fans among some of India’s most influential voices. Producer Guneet Monga praised its “courage, compassion, and cultural depth”, while Apoorva Bakshi, Emmy-winning producer of Delhi Crime, hailed it as “a feminist reframing of indigenous wisdom”. Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari called it “a courageous and tender revival of the spaces our youth desperately need today”.
Journalist Barkha Dutt added a sharp reminder: “Only one in 10 Indian men use a condom. The burden of birth control continues to fall on women. Ghotul opens space for honest conversations about reproductive autonomy. We say ‘our body, our choice’ but is that really the case?”
In reviving a tribal tradition, Ghotul sparks a very contemporary revolution, a reminder that true modernity might lie in rediscovering old wisdom. Because sometimes, to move forward, all we need to do is listen to the voices that spoke first.
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.
