When the OTT craze began in India, people rushed towards digital channels for the stories they had been longing to watch. That’s the exact reason why Bollywood and theatres were ditched. Unfortunately, even OTT is now struggling to deliver stories worth watching. But Navillera is that story that feels like a novel you are watching. It’s a human story—about human bonds, compassion, empathy, and the love that develops between two strangers purely because of humanity. And when I say love, do not mistake it for romantic love. Love is far beyond romanticism.
While the plot might make you feel that this K-drama is about ballet, let me tell you that this is only the surface-level truth. So, if you have already stumbled upon this show and skipped it, thinking it is all about dance, I want you to revisit it. Because that’s only half the truth.
Navillera is about a young boy and an old man who meet each other only because their passion for an art form is the same. But as the story progresses, you realise that this dance form is merely the reason they met. What this art gives them is much larger than life. The bond they share, the way they understand each other’s struggles on a much deeper level, and how they simply try to be there for each other without forcing anything upon the other… that is the beauty of this show.
When you get emotionally attached to another person, you become protective, sometimes overprotective, about the way you handle that person’s troubles. But Navillera teaches you that sometimes, just being there is enough. You do not have to be loud about your participation. You do not have to prove anything to yourself or the world about your contribution to another person’s life. You can simply do your bit and watch the other person win. That can be more satisfying than being rewarded.
Since Navillera was released in 2021 and its story is already out there, I will give you a kind of synopsis so that you get a glimpse of what the show conveys. It’s about a young ballet dancer, whose father, though still alive, makes him feel like an orphan. No matter how hard he tries, his teacher says his dance lacks emotion. His moves, hence, feel mechanical and robotic.
As this young boy goes through personal struggles, another man finds solace in ballet—a 70-year-old who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The drama reveals his diagnosis much later in the series, but one of the most heartwarming twists is how his love for ballet and his heartfelt connection with a fellow ballet dancer help him regain his memory whenever he sees him dance. That doesn’t mean dance or the young ballet dancer is helping slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in any way, but Navillera talks about what can make your soul feel at peace even when your brain is showing signs of ageing.
Speaking about the characters and the way this K-drama develops, I loved watching the individual equations between them all… Be it the warmth between Deok-chul (the old man) and his granddaughter, Haenam and Chae-rok, or the other characters. Every performance touches your heart, and every character helps make this show what it is—fabulous!
Where to Watch? Netflix
