Kiran Rao eyes Indian remake of Korean hit 'Reply 1988', calls parents the show's 'genuine jewel'
Kiran Rao eyes Indian remake of Korean hit 'Reply 1988', calls parents the show's 'genuine jewel'
Filmmaker Kiran Rao has named the South Korean drama Reply 1988 as her dream project to adapt for Indian audiences, lauding its warm, family-centred storytelling during a recent appearance on the chat show The Popcorn Hour.
'Something I would love to remake'
Speaking about the rise of Korean dramas, Rao pointed to Reply 1988 as a standout of the format and expressed a clear desire to bring it to Indian viewers. “Best K-drama is a show called Reply 1988. It's a fantastic show. It's actually set in 1988. In fact, that's something I would love to remake,” she said on The Popcorn Hour.
The parents as the 'genuine jewel'
For Rao, the show's appeal reaches far beyond the friendships and romances of its younger characters. She was especially struck by how the series develops the lives of the parents, giving their relationships and personal struggles real weight. “The genuine jewel of this show is the older women, the mothers, and the fathers. They are just so good,” she said.
The drama portrays several generations within a single neighbourhood, letting audiences view family life from the perspectives of both parents and children.
Seoul's 'para' and a Kolkata connection
Rao also drew a cultural bridge between the Seoul setting and her own country, noting the familiar concept of the neighbourhood. “It's set in a para, as they call it, a neighbourhood in Seoul in 1988. In fact, in Kolkata also you call it para only,” she said.
What is 'Reply 1988'?
Released in 2015, Reply 1988 is a South Korean slice-of-life drama directed by Shin Won-Ho and written by Lee Woo-Jung. The 20-episode series is set in Seoul's Ssangmun-dong neighbourhood during the late 1980s. It follows a group of young friends navigating adolescence, relationships and shifting family dynamics, while also devoting considerable attention to their parents' sacrifices, ambitions and everyday challenges.
No adaptation confirmed
Despite her enthusiasm, Rao has not confirmed an Indian adaptation of the series. Details regarding a possible cast, language, setting or production schedule remain unavailable.