How Indian Soaps Took Over Africa and the Caribbean
Words by Divya Goyal
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How Indian Soaps Took Over Africa and the Caribbean
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?In the 2019 film “Bharat,” Salman Khan’s titular hero finds himself in a life-or-death standoff aboard an Indian Merchant Navy ship under siege by African pirates. Just when the tension reaches its breaking point, an unexpected twist unites them all—Bollywood. With a shared passion for India's beloved cinema, the enemies transform into fans, proving that music and movies can bridge even the widest divides.
It’s a scene that feels almost too cinematic to be real—until you realize that, offscreen, Indian popular culture has been quietly forging similar connections around the world. But this time, it’s not just big-screen Bollywood that’s crossing oceans—it’s the dramas of Indian television.
From dubbed serials on African primetime TV to “Khushi parties” in Jamaica inspired by the hit series Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? (known abroad as Strange Love), Indian soaps are weaving themselves into the emotional lives of audiences far from home. What is it about these high-voltage romances, revenge weddings, and moral melodramas that resonates across cultures?
As it turns out, the answer lies in the universal grammar of longing, loyalty, and love—with just enough slow-motion eye contact to keep you hooked.