Popular Indian film series Drishyam will be remade in the Korean language by Parasite actor Song Kang-ho, the makers of the movie have announced at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival in France.
India’s Panorama Studios will be joining hands with Anthology Studios of Korea, founded by former Warner Bros. local Korean production head Jay Choi, for the Korean remake of the film series — made in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi in India.
“I’m excited that the Drishyam franchise is being made in Korean, a first for a Hindi film. This will not only increase its reach outside India but will also put Hindi cinema on the global map. All these years, we have been inspired by Korean fare, now they have found a muse in one of our films. What can be a bigger achievement for the Indian film fraternity,” Kumar Mangat Pathak of Panorama Studios said.
“This is the beginning of a valuable cultural exchange between both countries and their film industries,” he added.
Acclaimed director Kim Jee-woon and Kang-ho will produce the films in Korea, marking the first-ever remake of an Indian film in the country.
Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam 2, the Hindi sequel to Drishyam, grossed over Rs 360 crore worldwide after its release in November 2022. The Chinese remake of the franchise, Sheep Without a Shepherd, grossed nearly USD 200 million worldwide.
The 2015 edge-of-the-seat crime thriller, directed by the late Nishikant Kamat, revolves around Vijay Salgaonkar whose simple world splinters after an accidental death involving his family and his desperate measures to shield them from the law. With applause-worthy performances from Devgn, Tabu and Kamlesh Sawant, the film was a huge success.
Jay Choi was equally upbeat about the collaboration. “We are thrilled to have an opportunity to remake a massively successful Hindi film with a touch of originality from Korean cinema. And the remake has greater significance as the first major co-production between Korea and India. Through our partnership, we will be able to bring the best of both Indian and Korean cinema and make a meaningful remake that is as excellent as the original,” he said.
Jack Nguyen, who previously served as an executive at Warner Bros. in Los Angeles, and worked with Kumar Mangat on the WB-produced comedy hit Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge, will be the Executive Producer of this project. He has also worked with Jay Choi and his team on a slate of Korean films including 2016's critically acclaimed blockbuster drama, Age of Shadows.
