Korean webtoons and Bengali tales find their way to Tamil audiences

What if a couple on the brink of separation gets a chance to turn back the clock and look at their relationship through a different lens?Love Always, a Hotstar Specials Tamil original series based on the Korean webtoon Here We Go Again, explores this intriguing possibility through an age-reversal twist, blending romance, family dynamics, and humour.Directed by Madhumitha, the eight-episode fantasy-comedy series will premiere on JioHotstar on October 30, 2026, with all episodes released at once.The series, which began generating interest with the unveiling of its teaser, marks the first Korean webtoon adaptation in the Tamil originals space. Produced by Kross Pictures and Guru Films, it combines the creative sensibilities of South Korean storytelling with the cultural nuances of a Tamil narrative.Tribute to ‘Crazy’ MohanAdding a special touch to the trailer is the AI-recreated voice of Tamil playwright and actor ‘Crazy’ Mohan. Narrating the story through a magical medallion, the voice serves as a tribute to one of Tamil cinema’s celebrated comedy writers, whose distinctive humour, clever wordplay, and memorable characters continue to delight audiences across generations.At the heart of the narrative is an age-reversal twist that gives a couple on the brink of separation an unexpected opportunity to look at their relationship, family, and past choices from a different perspective.Drawing inspiration from ‘Crazy’ Mohan’s signature comedic style, the series brings his trademark wit and situational humour into a contemporary fantasy setting. Director Madhumitha, who had worked with Crazy Mohan, recalled how his writing demonstrated that humour need not be loud to be brilliant. “It just needs to be clever, surprising, and completely in love with the characters. His ability to find humour in simple situations – through his razor-sharp wordplay and wonderfully unpredictable characters – has been a masterclass in itself,” she said.Working with writers Sabarivasan Shamugan and Fazal Nawab, Madhumitha and her team sought to bring elements of Crazy Mohan’s comic sensibility into a contemporary fantasy setting. The use of an AI-recreated voice, she said, was intended as a tribute to the late writer.The ensemble cast is led by Gouri G. Kishan, Ramzan Muhammed, Jayasudha, Jayaprakash, and Maya Krishnan. The cast also includes Palli Pradeep Kumar Reddy, Mythili Sathyajith, Dimple Kanna K., Aadhvik Ravichandran, Suraj Seetharaman, Smruthi Mohankumar, Sadasivam Suryanarayan, and Ramaswamy Murugiah.Veteran actor Jayasudha, who makes her web-series debut, has described the series as a story rooted in family, love, and the choices people look back on as they grow older. The series brings together different generations and their perspectives on relationships.With episodes running for approximately 30 minutes each, Love Always promises a breezy mix of fantasy, romance, and comedy. The series will be available in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali.Bengali stories find wider audienceFor viewers who enjoy exploring stories across languages, Netflix has teamed up with Bengali streaming platform and content studio ‘hoichoi’ to bring its acclaimed Bengali series and new releases to Netflix in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, alongside joint original stories.Bengali stories are set to travel beyond their traditional linguistic boundaries through this partnership. All hoichoi series premiering over the next two years will be available on Netflix. The collaboration seeks to expand the reach of Bengali storytelling by making its distinctive mix of crime thrillers, detective mysteries, folklore horror, social dramas, and romance accessible to viewers in other languages.The partnership will feature a curated collection of 14 titles, including Madam Inspector, Sampurna, Lajja, Eken Sirji, Anjaan Saaye, The Curse of Parnashavari, Bloodlines, The Adventures of Daadi & Jagga, Raat Abhi Baaki Hain, Achinta: Trial By Law, Shaadi Ka Siyappa, Queens, Parineeta: A Love Story, and Mahanagar.New shows will also premiere on Netflix in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi alongside their Bengali premieres on hoichoi.The first of these releases is The Cursed Temple of Kauriburi, a folklore horror series starring Jeetu Kamal, Solanki Roy, and Paoli Dam. It is scheduled to premiere on November 6.Beyond bringing existing and upcoming series to new audiences, the two platforms will collaborate on original series produced by hoichoi Studios.Thirukkural in new TV game showCan an ancient literary classic become the centre of an exciting television game show? Kuralukkum Amudhendru Per, a new 13-episode game show, seeks to make the Thirukkural engaging for younger audiences by combining its timeless wisdom with the art of public speaking and quick thinking. A total of 36 contestants, aged 11 and above, ranging from school students to college students, will participate in the show | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Produced by Shriram Group, the show will be telecast on Puthuyugam TV every Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m., from November 1 to January 24, 2027.By placing the classic at the centre of a television competition, the show seeks to bring the wisdom of the Thirukkural to life by challenging students to speak for five minutes on topics drawn from its couplets.As part of the initiative, Shriram Group organised preliminary rounds of a talent hunt themed around the Thirukkural across 12 zones in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The rounds were held in several places, including Chennai, Vellore, Puducherry, Salem, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, and Coimbatore, attracting 5,620 student participants.A total of 36 contestants, aged 11 and above, ranging from school students to college students, will participate in the show.The show is directed by G. Selva of ‘nis creativezz’ and hosted by Ramkumar Singaram. Through its weekly episodes, the programme will bring the thrill of a game show to audiences while placing Tamil literary heritage in the spotlight.