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Are we going to see I-drama steamroll cinema?
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Cigarette girl: 'Gadis Kretek', Netflix's original Indonesian miniseries, premiered on the global streaming platform in November. The miniseries stars Dian Sastrowardoyo (pictured), Ario Bayu, Arya Saloka and Putri Marino. (Courtesy of Netflix /-)
In a film industry marked by the rise of over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Indonesian cinema has leaped into the global spotlight.
Gadis Kretek, one of the most talked about Indonesian series in 2023, highlights the growth of Indonesia's film industry.
As its producer, Netflix allocated an estimated US$250,000 to US$400,000 for each of the five episodes of this drama about Indonesia’s cigarette industry in the 1960s.
While Netflix’s landmark investment has made global headlines, it is not the only production of note this year. Thriller series Katarsis and Tilik the Series are equally loved by the local audience and have some wondering whether Indonesian drama, or I-drama, is the next big thing after K-drama.
The founders of local production house BASE Entertainment, Aoura Lovenson and Shanty Harmayn, enthused that Indonesia had the potential to surpass South Korean market due to the large population of close to 300 million individuals, who have a strong preference for local content.
"Our main focus is on Indonesia-centric theatrical content, and we are pleased to still have a strong interest in Indonesian-language content. Considering the population size, our market has a significant advantage over South Korea's, indicating a promising potential for growth," Aoura said.
"External exposure is a characteristic of South Korea as attracting [audiences] outside South Korea is not only possible, but essential. Indonesian cinema, akin to that of China and India, is nevertheless influenced by the domestic market; thus, comparisons to these nations are feasible."
