Filmmaker Kiran Rao has expressed her interest in remaking the popular South Korean drama ‘Reply 1988’ for Indian audiences. Speaking on The Popcorn Hour, she praised the show’s storytelling, particularly its portrayal of parents and the close-knit neighbourhood where the story unfolds.
The remark has set off fresh talk among fans of Korean content in India. Many have long felt that the series, with its warm family scenes and small-town feel, could work well in an Indian setting.
Why Rao is drawn to the show
Rao pointed to two things in particular: the way the show treats parents, and the way it treats neighbours. Both are central to the drama. Parents are not side characters here. They have their own jokes, fears, fights and dreams. Neighbours are not strangers either. They walk in without knocking, share meals and look after each other’s children.
These are ideas Indian viewers know well. Joint families, shared walls and open doors are part of daily life in many Indian towns and cities. That familiarity is one reason a remake feels natural to many fans.
Rao’s own track record
Rao has built a reputation for quiet, character-led films. She made her directing debut with ‘Dhobi Ghat’ in 2010, a film set in Mumbai that followed four people whose lives cross by chance. She returned to direction with ‘Laapataa Ladies’ in 2024, a comedy-drama about two brides who get swapped on a train. The film was chosen as India’s official entry for the Oscars in the international feature category.
Both films focus on small human moments rather than big plot twists. ‘Reply 1988’ works in a similar way. That is why many see Rao as a fitting name to talk about an Indian version.
What Reply 1988 is about
‘Reply 1988’ is a South Korean drama that aired on the cable channel tvN. It ran for 20 episodes, from November 2015 to January 2016. It is the third show in the “Reply” franchise, after ‘Reply 1997’ and ‘Reply 1994’.
The series was directed by Shin Won-ho and written by Lee Woo-jung. Shin later directed ‘Prison Playbook’ and ‘Hospital Playlist’, two other shows that were loved for their warm tone.
The story is set in 1988 in Ssangmun-dong, a neighbourhood in the Dobong district of Seoul. That year, South Korea was preparing to host the Summer Olympics. The mood in the country was hopeful, and the show uses that backdrop with care.
The families at the centre
The drama follows five families who live in the same lane. Each home has its own story, its own money worries and its own quirks.
At the centre is a group of five friends who grew up together. The lead role, Sung Deok-sun, was played by Hyeri. Her friends were played by Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo and Lee Dong-hwi.
The show also became known for its adult cast. Sung Dong-il, Lee Il-hwa, Ra Mi-ran, Kim Sung-kyun and Choi Moo-sung played the parents. Many viewers say the parents stole the show. Their scenes of cooking, bickering and quietly making sacrifices are often named among the best parts of the series.
The drama does not rely on big shocks. Most episodes follow ordinary events. A family shares a pot of food with the next house. A father hides his worry about money. A mother makes a choice that costs her something. Children fall in love for the first time.
- Kiran Rao
- Korean star
- reply 1988
