I grew up in the super city of Mumbai. My roots are deeply entrenched here, where I’ve treasured millions of moments with my family and childhood gang, many of whom still live there. We have so many stories to chat about and rofl on, and they still bring tears (of joy) to my eyes. Growing up in Mumbai doesn’t mean we meet celebrities or stars on a daily basis, but it does mean that I have had a lot of Bollywood drama and extremely melodramatic Indian TV series to fill a lifetime. The older movies and series are still memorable and some of the newer ones are built on brilliant storylines but it would take me strong recommendations to watch the new ones.
As with life, my dreams stretched beyond Mumbai’s skyline. It led me to the charming streets of Milan. It may be smaller in size, but its heart beats with warmth. There, over aperitifs and espresso shots, I found people eager to swap stories and forge connections. In Milan, professions mattered less than the time spent with loved ones over love, laughter and friendships. I also met my two beautiful friends in Milan, over what I call fated encounters. We didn’t just explore new cities; we uncovered bits of ourselves along the way and are still doing so. I also noticed I was much less into TV or movies (due to the language hurdle) at this period in time.
And once again pretty soon, the call of adventure (my partner and money ;)) beckoned me to another new city, Brussels. It may be smaller than Mumbai, but it’s with its own charm and surprises. My partner and I are embarking on our story together, everyday. In a city where people come and go like fleeting seasons, I’ve learned that life seldom follows the scripts we write. Plans made don’t always stick and that we have to dream new dreams and go on.
My stories across these 3 countries, with people I have met and love, keep me grounded and happy. They also make me explore new cultures and countries, via TV.
It is in Brussels where I also stumbled upon the enchanting world of Korean dramas. My knowledge of Korean language is gradually increasing and I can almost catch the meaning of whole sentences 🙂 though I can’t say the same about my French, yet.
It’s been around 4 or 5 years since I embarked on this journey on Netflix (thank you!), and I’ve been utterly lured into it.
Now, picture this: an Indian woman, nestled in the heart of Belgium, not eagerly awaiting the next big thing from Bollywood (or the Belgian movie industry ;)), but instead, jumping onto the next Korean series, with a bit of an obsession. I even curate these dramas in my head.
While I can’t claim to have watched every single one (thankfully), Netflix seems to have a knack for predicting my tastes, prompting me to literally play mind games with it as I search for the hidden gems on my own. It does mean scrolling endlessly (and who hasn’t been there), but I am one to experience the simple pleasures of life without the algorithm!
This obsession actually began with a romantic Japanese series and then I moved onto “Boys Over Flowers,” that got me hooked. Since then, I’ve literally devoured countless others, from “Reply 1988” to “Be Melodramatic”, “Twenty Five Twenty One,” “Startup”, “Crash Landing on You”, “Something in the Rain” and beyond. I loved “Be Melodramatic” so much I’ve watched it twice, and I am itching to watch Reply 1988 again.
What’s so irresistible about these Korean dramas that it keeps luring me in? It is the whole package! —the creative concepts, the masterful direction, the hook-onto-me screenplays, the talented cast chosen by the casting team, the realistic and unrealistic sets, and even the carefully curated music (even though I don’t understand Korean lyrics!). A genuine thanks to the entire team for crafting such immersive worlds that I eagerly dive into, becoming a part of them. And most importantly, it takes me into a world outside my own, it makes me feel as if I am part of the Korean life and I might as well start speaking Korean when I wake up one day..
Having delved into uncountable series, I’ve felt compelled to share my musings publicly and also to know your thoughts on those. I would focus solely on those that delight, excite or inspire me to dream beyond my own reality. Critiquing those that didn’t resonate with me seems unjust, given the immense effort poured into every production. And I also promise to keep my reflections free from spoilers :). See you in my world…
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