A former hikikomori brings a moving Indian film to Japanese fans

A former recluse, or “hikikomori” who found motivation in Bollywood movies, is now giving back by bringing his favorite Indian movies to Japan’s big screens.

Noriko Inagaki said, “I believe this movie will encourage people like me.” “Madras Beats”

Inagaki was going through a difficult time in the late 1990s. Shortly after Japan’s wealth boom ended, she was fired as a judicial scrivener from three firms in a row.

Since then, she has been afraid to go outside alone.

Fortunately, about six months later, an acquaintance recommended Inagaki to watch the Indian film Muthu.

She was knocked out by the “radiant smile” of the film’s main character, a fat man who works for a landowner. This character somehow gave Inagaki, now 53 years old, the courage to break out of his hikikomori life.

Looking back, Inagaki said, “I laughed so hard.” “Now I want to go out and work and watch movies.”

After returning to society, Mr. Inagaki visited India during his vacation to watch movies and visit filming locations.

Inagaki first encountered “Madras Beats” at the 2018 Tokyo International Film Festival. The protagonist pursues his dream of becoming a ‘mridangam’ drummer despite the difficulties associated with the country’s caste system.

In 2020, she started selling movie DVDs at a South Indian restaurant in Tokyo that she runs with her husband Tomihisa. As many as 200 books disappeared from store shelves during the coronavirus pandemic, quadrupling normal sales.

Inagaki sent an email to the film’s director Rajiv Menon, telling him that many fans in Japan are waiting for the film to be shown here. His response suggested that Inagaki himself purchase the rights to screen the film.

Purchasing the rights to this film didn’t cost much. Inagaki raised more than 1.5 million yen through crowdfunding to cover the costs of preview screenings and other screening venues.

“Madras Beats” was released last year and is currently in theaters across the country.

Now, every time Mr. Inagaki visits a screening venue and gives an introductory speech on stage, fans thank him for making the film more approachable.