Exploring the Depths of Ōkami yo, Furuete Nemure: A Tale of Revenge and Justice
Ōkami yo, Furuete Nemure introduces readers to Maya, an undercover police officer who infiltrates a notorious bandit group. Alongside her is Kareena, a fierce bandit driven by vengeance for her husband’s murder. This gripping narrative intertwines their lives in a world rife with conflict and moral ambiguity.
A New Manga Set in 1980s India
On August 9, manga artist Chie Inudō revealed on her Instagram that she is launching a new series set against the backdrop of 1980s India. The first chapter of Ōkami yo, Furuete Nemure debuted in the 117th issue of Kadokawa’s Harta magazine on September 13.
Inudō’s storytelling focuses on two women from starkly different social strata navigating life under India’s caste system. Maya’s role as an undercover cop contrasts sharply with Kareena’s quest for retribution—a dynamic that reflects broader societal issues.
Kareena: A Character Inspired by Real-Life Figures
Kareena’s character draws inspiration from Phoolan Devi, a historical figure known for her transformation from bandit to politician. Devi gained notoriety through various media portrayals since the release of the film Bandit Queen in 1994. Her life story has been adapted into numerous works including Claire Fauvel’s graphic novel Phoolan Devi, Rebel Queen.
Devi emerged from India’s marginalized Mallah caste and faced significant hardships including child marriage before becoming an elected member of Lok Sabha twice. She advocated for rural infrastructure improvements and sought to eradicate child marriages across India.
However, Phoolan Devi was not pleased with how she was depicted in Bandit Queen; she attempted to block its release due to inaccuracies regarding her life events and portrayal as merely a victim rather than an empowered individual making conscious choices.
Caste System Representation in Media
Harta describes Ōkami yo, Furuete Nemure as exploring themes related to class disparity within India’s rigid caste framework. Indian creators often face challenges when addressing social injustices tied to caste discrimination due to self-censorship pressures; foreign depictions may lack nuanced understanding of these complex issues.
Japanese media has shown some willingness to tackle sensitive topics like caste dynamics when portraying Indian characters—Yana Toboso’s Black Butler being one notable example that addressed such themes early on in its storyline. As Inudō embarks on this project, there are hopes among audiences that it will provide an authentic representation of social inequalities and women’s struggles within Indian society.
Inspiration Behind Inudō’s Work
Chie Inudō shared insights about her creative process via social media platforms; she noted that this marks her return to long-form storytelling after some time away from it. Interestingly enough, she crafted Ōkami yo, Furuete Nemure while drawing parallels with Western cowboy narratives but set firmly within the Indian context.
In addition to classic Indian bandit films like Paan Singh Tomar and Sonchiriya serving as inspirations for this work, contemporary Netflix titles such as SHE and Darlings have also influenced Inudō’s vision alongside successful films like RRR and 3 Idiots which resonated well with Japanese audiences upon their release.
Previous Works by Chie Inudō
Before embarking on this new venture into storytelling centered around revenge-driven narratives set against socio-political backdrops reminiscent of real-life figures like Phoolan Devi herself—Inudō previously launched Aoi Horus no Hitomi through Harta back in December 2014 which ran successfully until April 2021 spanning over forty chapters showcasing her talent over time effectively engaging readers throughout its run.
Sources include Chie Inudō’s Instagram account along with Harta’s official website.
Intern at SMK University
