K-Drama Signal Gets Indian Adaptation

Sikhya Entertainment and Dharmatic Entertainment are behind the Indian adaptation of the Korean drama Signal for ZEE5.

The Indian adaptation, Gyaarah Gyaarah, is titled after native Hindi terminology for 11:11. It blends Indian cultural elements with a story of justice, mystery and the supernatural.

The Hindi-language series is brought to life by Indian director Umesh Bist and stars Raghav Juyal, Kritika Kamra and Dhairya Karwa. The drama navigates through significant years in India’s history—1990, 2001 and 2016—amid the magic of the Himalayan ranges. The interweaving storyline unravels layers of mysticism and science, much like the original, but with a distinctly Indian flavor.

The original Korean version, produced by CJ ENM’s Studio Dragon, explores the concept of communication across time to solve cold cases. The original series aired in 2016 on the K-content channel tvN.

Signal has seen adaptations in Japan and Thailand. There’s a second season coming in South Korea.

Sebastian Kim, director of content distribution at CJ ENM, commented: “CJ ENM is dedicated to producing and distributing high-quality content that resonates with audiences across the globe. The Indian adaptation of Signal is a part of this ongoing commitment, reflecting the company’s strategy to adapt successful Korean dramas for international audiences while preserving the core elements that made them beloved in the first place.”

In an official statement, the producers said, “We are incredibly proud of this association. K-Dramas have been groundbreaking and globally popular, with deeply rooted storytelling that resonates with audiences worldwide. This partnership marks the beginning of a beautiful relationship with Korea, allowing us to bring one of their IPs to India. Dharmatic and Sikhya are thrilled to collaborate with CJ on Gyaarah Gyaarah and look forward to many more joint ventures. ZEE5, as a platform, is uniquely positioned to give these projects the biggest push in India, reaching a wide and diverse audience. Korea excels in storytelling, and this partnership is truly epic. Together with ZEE5’s extensive reach, we aim to bring these stories to an even larger audience in India. Here’s to many more successful collaborations!”

Manish Kalra, chief business officer at ZEE5 India, said, “At ZEE5, we are relentlessly pursuing content that pushes the boundaries of storytelling. With Gyaarah Gyaarah, the Indian adaptation of the critically acclaimed K-drama Signal, we are confident in setting a new benchmark for innovative and exceptional storytelling. We are excited to bring this gripping story of time, mystery, and justice to Indian audiences. This series marks a significant milestone for ZEE5, and we are thrilled for its release.”