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Oscars 2020 and its significance for India

New Delhi: Korean black comedy Parasite has managed to create history, bagging four Oscars on Sunday night. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Parasite is the first non-English language film to get the best picture award. The film mirrors much of what’s happening in India, and around the world—languages other than ones that dominate, such as English in the US and Hindi in India, emerge as major entertainment options. Movie viewers have also broadened their horizons, thanks to global cinema exposure, particularly through video streaming platforms.

Parasite also won best director, best international feature film and best original screenplay. While Joker star Joaquin Phoenix won the best actor in a leading role, Renee Zellweger was named the best actress for playing Judy Garland in the biopic of the movie star and singer. Also, Parasite is the first Korean film that received a theatrical release in India, showing that there is a niche but growing market for small-scale and plot-driven foreign films in the country, as around the world. The growth in Parasite-like films is being driven by rising exposure to global cinema through over-the-top (OTT) platforms, a younger generation of movie goers and newer avenues to watch films, besides smart and innovative marketing techniques employed by foreign studios ….Click here to read the full story