Movies
‘Visanarai’ to represent India at Oscars
NEW DELHI: The Tamil film ‘Visanarai’ (Interrogation) will represent India at the American Academy of Motion Pictures (Oscars) awards next year. This was announced by the selection committee set up by the Film Federation of India in Hyderabad.
The film has been directed by Vetrimaaran, and will compete in the foreign language competition category. The film is about a group of immigrants who are forced by the police to confess to a crime they did not commit.
Produced by Wunderbar and Grass Root Film Company, the film stars Samuthirakani, Dinesh, Anandhi and Murugadass.
The film won the Amnesty International Italia Award at Venice in 2015. It bagged awards for best Tamil feature, best supporting actor for Samuthirakani, and best editing for T I Kishore in the National Film Awards in May this year.
India has been nominated three times – “Mother India” (1957), “Salaam Bombay” (1989), and “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India” (2002).
Indians working in foreign films or international films made by Indians have won Oscars. These include Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ in which costumes award went to Bhanu Athaiya, Shekhar Kapoor’s ‘Elizabeth’ which won several awards, and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ which won A R Rahman two Oscars for the song ‘Jai Ho’ penned by Gulzar.
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.
