Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘Made in Korea’ is an Indian Tamil-language drama movie that delves into the experiences of a girl named Shenba. Hailing from a remote part of Tamil Nadu, India, she develops a fascination for Korean culture, movies, and shows from a young age. She spends her life with dreams of traveling to Korea, often facing ridicule from her family and friends for harboring such foolish ambitions. As an adult, when she finally gets the chance to fly to Korea, she hopes it will be the happiest memory of her life.
However, in the foreign country, she is stranded after her lover betrays her. Facing language barriers and financial difficulties, her dream vacation turns into an unexpected nightmare. As she tries to escape her misery, she meets various people in Korea who offer her new perspectives on life. Directed by Ra Karthik, the narrative poignantly captures a deeply moving story that sheds light on socially relevant themes.
Made in Korea Depicts the Convergence of Two Cultures Through Shenba’s Journey
Written by Ra Karthik, ‘Made in Korea’ is a nuanced exploration of a character’s journey through various difficulties. The fictional story realistically explores the trend of Indians finding a connection with Korean culture through Shenba’s heartwarming journey. The narrative is essentially a story of people from diverse backgrounds finding common ground. The film sheds light on the intricacies of the similarities and differences between Indian and Korean cultures. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Shenba struggles to adjust to life in Korea due to linguistic barriers and lifestyle differences. Her character arc, at its core, embodies the spirit of an immigrant’s journey through life’s trials and tribulations.
The story also explores the inherent beauty of every culture and the importance of love, care, and empathy in one’s life. Shenba’s character symbolically represents the struggles of several such migrants in the real world, especially from India, who face difficulties when they move to a foreign land where culture, lifestyle, and other patterns differ. The people she meets during her journey to Korea give her new perspectives on life, and through intercultural communication, she discovers new values and a sense of shared humanity. The film also highlights the importance of friendships between people from different backgrounds. Such bonds between people help to overcome differences in a globalized world. Speaking to Filmfare, Ra Karthik, the director of the movie, delved into the inspirations behind the film.
He said, “My friends, neighbours and family are all interested in Korean culture, Korean food, K-dramas and BTS. So the idea sparked from there. Also, we have a historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Korea. More than 600 Korean and Tamil words are said to be similar. That made me think about why we can’t make a cross-cultural film based on the cultures of Tamil Nadu and Korea.” Priyanka Mohan, who plays Shenba in the film, added to the filmmaker’s perspectives and opined that Indians and Koreans share similar values. The core of the movie lies in the art of breaking down barriers and bringing people together across national boundaries.
Made in Korea is a Poignant Tale of Liberation, Redemption, and Meaning
The main theme of ‘Made in Korea’ is Shenba’s redemptive journey of self-discovery. Her story is grounded in reality and focuses on the challenges that people face when they move to a country whose culture and language they don’t understand. Along with this, her character arc is an inspirational tale of a woman finding her own voice. Shenba finds it difficult to make sense of her reality in the foreign country, despite having wanted to visit Korea since her childhood. Her journey also looks at how perception can often differ from reality. She imagines travelling to Korea as an extraordinary experience that would allow her to fulfill her dreams. However, she realizes that not everything in life can be an idealistic dream scenario.
Her complex character development adds to the narrative’s authenticity, giving her a voice of her own in a world where people hold different opinions of her. In an interview with The Hindu, Ra Karthik expressed, “My target audience is people who love K-Dramas and K-Pop and I wanted to connect with them on a shared aspiration of being able to visit South Korea. I decided to make it about a woman, and explore both the fantasy and the realities of this dream, and have her journey through human values rather than romance.” ‘Made in Korea’ is more than just an exploration of a foreign culture, but also an engrossing and meaningful portrait of a woman finding herself.
Read More: Made in Korea Ending Explained: Does Shenba Return to Seoul?
