South Korean movies have been making a bigger market and have an intense impact on audiences, from winning Oscar with ‘Parasite’ and stealing our hearts with ‘Minari’. Be it Family/Drama, or Romcoms, or Crime/psychological thrillers, the viewers are left awestruck with each flick. These movies create magic that is so remarkable that even Bollywood couldn't keep itself away from it. The past decade has seen a lot of South Korean films remade into Bollywood movies.
1. The Terror Live (2013) (Action-Thriller)
IMDb Rating – 7.1/10
This is a popular Korean film written and directed by Kim Byung-woo. It stars Ha Jung Woo and Kim So Jin in the Pivotal Roles. The film showcases a series of events where a top anchor is tested as many lives are at stake as he interviews with a Terrorist who'd blow up a Bridge. This movie has been remade into Bollywood as ‘Dhamaka’ starring Kartik Aryan as the compelled news anchor. This movie is yet to release in 2021.
2. Ode To My Father (2014) (Drama)
IMDb Rating – 7.9/10
This is the fourth highest-grossing film in the history of South Korean cinema. This movie is directed by Yoon Je-Kyoon with Hwang Jung-min and Yunjin Kim playing lead roles. The film is set in the backdrop of the Hungnam Evacuation of the 1950s to the present day. The movie focuses on an ordinary man with an extraordinary journey in the book of life. The film was remade into Bollywood with the title ‘Bharat’ (2019) starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles.
3. Always/ Only You (2011) (Romance/ Drama)
IMDb Ratings - 7.8/10
The film is directed by Song Il-gon with So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-Joo in the lead roles. This movie is about the romance between a cold, ex-boxer who comes across a girl who's slowly getting blind but has an optimistic approach towards life. The movie was remade as ‘Do Lafzon Ki Kahani’ (2016) in Bollywood starring Randeep Hooda and Kajal Agarwal as the romantic duo.
4. Ajeossi(Korean)/The Man From Nowhere (2010) (Action/Thriller)
IMDb Rating - 7.8/10
The film is written and directed by Lee Jeong-Beom with Won Bin as the main lead. The movie focuses on a mysterious man and his brutal killings to save someone who got kidnapped. This movie was remade into Bollywood with the name ‘Rocky Handsome’ (2016) starring John Abraham.
5. Masquerade (2012) (Historical Drama)
IMDb Rating - 7.8/10
The film is directed by Choo Chang-Min with Lee Byung-hun in the dual role, as a king and a commoner working for his beloved Kingdom and keeping it away from the downfall. The movie was remade into Bollywood with the title ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ (2015) starring Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor adding the touch of Indian Hindu Tradition and with the texture of Bollywood.
6. Seven Days (2007) (Thriller/Drama)
IMDb Rating - 6.7/10
The film is directed by Won Shin Yu with Yunjin Kim and Park Hee Soon in the lead roles. This movie takes on a rollercoaster ride through several turns of events where a lawyer has to save her kidnapped daughter by defending a convicted criminal within ‘SEVEN DAYS’, as the name suggests. In Bollywood, this movie was remade as ‘Jazbaa’, starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the late actor Irfan Khan.
7. Montage (2013) (Thriller/Mystery)
IMDb Rating - 7.5/10
The film is directed by Jung Gyun Sub. It stars Uhm Jung-Hwa, Kim Sang-Kyung, and Song Young-chang in the lead roles. The movie revolves around an unsolved kidnapping case from 1998. With various twists and turns, this movie kept its audience hooked on the real culprit. The movie was remade into Bollywood in 2016 as ‘Te3n’ starring legendary actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Sabyasachi Chakroborty along with talented actors such as Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
8. I Saw The Devil (2010) (Action/ Crime Thriller)
IMDb Rating - 7.8/10
The film is directed by Kim Jee-Woon and Written by Park Hoon-Jung. Lee Byung-Hun and Choi Min-Sik are the main leads. The film begins with Lee's character tracing the guy who brutally killed his fiancée, lessening the knowledge that the killer is a serial/psycho killer. The movie was remade in Bollywood with the title ‘Ek Villain’ starring Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor with Riteish Deshmukh as the psychotic serial killer.
9. A Bittersweet Life (2005) (Action/Drama)
IMDb Rating - 7.5/10
The film is regarded as a South Korean Neo-Noir Film. It’s written and directed by Kim Jee-Woon. It stars Lee Byung-hun who works as a hitman under a crime leader. He embarks on a journey that changes his life when he is asked by his boss to keep an eye on his wife. The film was remade as ‘Awarapan’(2007) in Bollywood starring Emraan Hashmi, Ashutosh Rana, and Shriya Saran.
10. The Chaser (2008) (Crime - Thriller/ Action)
IMDb Rating - 7.8/10
The film is inspired by the actual life events of the Korean Serial Killer, Yoo Young Chul. The movie was directed by Na Hong-jin which remarks his debut film. It stars Kim Yoon-Seok and Ha Jung-Woo. The movie throws light into the life of an ex-detective and his face-off with a serial killer who was targeting his prostitutes to kill. In Bollywood, this movie was remade as ‘Murder 2’ starring Emran Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandes (2011).
