H E L L O E V E R Y O N E! | Due to the sheer amount of adaptations, I have also created a public voting list where I've placed the featured titles + those that did not make it to this article.
I am hoping that this will be a fun little read & everyone will have fun spotting differences between the source material and the adapted outcome, if any. In instances where I have also mentioned the date of the publishing, you may be surprised to see that certain plots birth in a society of a certain era different than ours, as well as maybe understand just why the drama you saw may have been a certain way. A B O V E A L L , I H O P E Y O U E N J O Y! | I will confess — when I first had the idea of writing articles surrounding Thai novel adaptations, I had not fully comprehended the fact that more than 99 % of Thai lakorns are actually novel adaptations ha ha. ( ‾́ ◡ ‾́ ) And before I could re-think this, I was already sailing on the sea of novel adaptation articles. Call me an adventurer or a fool, they smell the same to me right now, to be honest.
Within this article, I have featured a number of novels that have been adapted into Thai dramas. I have included the name of the novel as well as the synopsis derived from the novel. | LENGTHY ARTICLE. SPOILERS AHEAD. WORKS IN BOTH MODES. CLICK ON IMAGES TO BE REDIRECTED. |
| Dozens of Kisses by Waan Glîng
A love story about a professional writer Gene whose novel is being adapted into a BL series, and the actor playing the main lead in the series, Nubsib, who is a wolf in disguise, pretending to be pitifully homeless just to move in with Gene and win his heart. And perhaps, Nubsib had spent years in love with Gene, trying to win his heart. | |
| The Virtue of Fire by Kritsana Asoksin Is a story of two friends, and a man between them. Jai Rerng and Pimala were friends with two very different personalities. Rerk was a man both friends loved in different ways. The story teaches about karma, friendship, marital loyalty, forgiveness, and a hard lesson of what goes around comes around. | |
| Ubaat Rai Ubaat Bak by Choo Bulan When a Casanova finds himself falling for an unresponsive employee, little does he know is that her heart has little space for love because it is so filled with guilt. Little does he know that their lives have been already entangled together by their siblings and a car accident. This novel tells a love story of love, revenge, forgiveness, and perseverance. | |
| Destiny of the Moon by Ploylaphat The author was only asked permission to use the title of the novel. (1) In the novel, the main character "Sasithon" traveled 500 years to the past in order to cure her mother's strange disease, and there met a man called Intu whose dead wife looked like her. In the drama, two girls who looked the same traveled into each other's time and found love and purpose. | |
| Confusedly In Love by Cherin/ Itsaya Having been dumped by three girlfriends in a row, Tullyana decides to quit dating girls and date a man instead. Unfortunately, this task is not as easy as it seems. The man Tul has set her eyes on only views her as a younger sibling. However, there is another man around her, her boss, Matt. But the thing about Matt is... Tullyana had once stolen his girlfriend from him. | |
| Ruk Plik Lok by Tepita Naweeya has always been in love with her childhood friend, Kittiput. However, he has never viewed her as more than his friend and instead pines for Saruda. One day, Naweeya collides with a single father, Partit, who also has unfinished business with Saruda. Somehow the four individuals find their fates entwined with each other and can't seem to untangle themselves from this bittersweet destiny. | |
| Heart of Montra by Pranat Sometimes death is a pleasant dream for some people. Especially those who were like him, cursed by his love to live an eternity with a frozen diamond for a heart. Decades after decades pass and he can not die. Instead, he can only watch his loved ones die life after life, while he sits and waits for the one who cursed him to return and undo his suffering. To allow him to die. To reincarnate. | |
| Cage of Sin by Chulamani
When a home feels like a cage and good deeds are given rewards but bad deeds receive torment and punishment, what sort of karma will form in the four walls of such a home? This emotional and strong novel tells the tale of how one's actions are what controls their future and their karma. | |
| Flower by the Edge of the Road by Chuwong Chayachinda
First published in a magazine in 1972, "Roadside Dahlia" or "Dok Ruk Rim Tung" is a love story about a girl who dresses up as a boy in order to return to her home which now belongs to Mr. Patawee, and investigates her father's death. In between the investigation, the growing closeness of the two, and fighting villains that lurk in the dark — the two find love. | |
| Qi Pao by Pongsakorn
A hauntingly thrilling story of a beautiful peony detailed Qi Pao that holds the spirit of its owner who had been stabbed to her death on her wedding day. The wedding outfit falls in the hands of a Thai curator, Pakeha, who looks exactly like the owner of the gown. And thus the girl finds herself travelling all the way to Hong Kong in order to bring justice to the woman who cries to her in her dreams. | |
| Twilight Patterned Lace by Pongsakorn When Duenpattra's grandmother's death was ruled out as suicide, Duenpattra who knew something was amiss began to investigate. While doing so, she comes across a night sky coloured black shade lace and a mirror left behind by her grandmother whose origins were mysterious. Then she also began seeing a mysterious man wearing just white pants in a mirror. | |
| He comes at Qingming Festival Next to My Grave by Larza
An amnesiac ghost whose grave no one has visited ever since he can remember feels extremely lonesome during the festival of Qingming when other graves are clean and filled with food. One day, however, he receives chocolate from a very unexpected little boy. The two meet again years later and somehow fall in love. | |
| The Cursed Fabric by Pongsakorn Born in a period where the love of men is just like dew — abundant in supply for a period of time but suddenly lost when morning arrives — Princess Seeket found herself completely heartbroken by Prince Tad and committed suicide, cursing the wedding fabric she had spent months preparing to hold her spirit so that she seeks her revenge lifetime after lifetime. | |
| The Effect by SweetSky
A dark and morbid tale of a young boy who because of someone else's obsession and desire, finds himself facing the cruelness of the world and his peers. While traumatising and extremely dark, the drama did a job well done at adapting the plotline and showing the most bleakest and raw consequences of such devastating actions. TW: All sorts of TW applied | |
| Trail of Silk by Pongsakorn
Award-winning tale by Dr. Pongsakorn about the tragic tale of Princess Maneerin's first life, where she found herself in the middle of two Prince's love and a woman's intense hatred — until it cost her, her life. Then she was reborn years later as Rerin. Soon her past life decided to catch up with her, and so did her past lover, Suriyawong. | |
| Puzzling Bride by Sopee Pannarai The mysterious bride is the story of a beautiful woman called Rada, who disguises herself as the bride of a rich man, Wipat, in order to take revenge on his mother. In the midst of the waves of revenge, however, love finds its way to the shore. Will forgiveness and true love be able to solve all of Rada and Wipat's problems? | |
| As Long as the Sky has the Sun by Daryl As an orphan living under someone else's roof, she knew that she would one day have to leave. In order to stay forever, she decided to get naked and seduce the son of the family Arthit. The plan was unsuccessful, but Arthit ended up absolutely disgusted with her and she was sent away in the name of studies. When she returned, she attempted to right her wrongs... but maybe it was too late?
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| Once Upon a Time... In My Heart by Chayaapim Once upon a time, a cold mafia prince meets a loving princess on a cold and snowy day in the middle of Tokyo. However, there is a shadow that remains in the corner of the princes' heart and it is very hard to erase. Will this love just be a painful love story or an example of a love that prevails all? The answer lies in the heart. | |
| Pursue Love Back to the Heart by Kingchat Nara travels to the Sathus farm in order to find her father, who she had thought had died when she was a child. However, in fear of not being accepted, Nara decided to quietly work on the farm and spend some time with her father before breaking the news to him. Thus, her name becomes Nuna. Although she's not good at most things, she still manages to catch the eye of the farm owner, Mr. Singh. | |
| Khun Chai Puttipat by Gaodtaem Talented young surgeon, Khun Chai Pat", with a heart full of dignity finds himself breaking his own rules when he met a young woman who holds the title "Ms. Sri Siam" and is said to be the next concubine of a powerful general. Eventually, he finds that the girl is not just beautiful but also wise. She is not tarnished metal... but a beauty with a diamond heart. | Others in the series:
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| Garden Dahlia by Sopak Suwan A love story of a young Thai girl student "Wayun" who meets "Dr. Ramil" away from her home. However, their love is hindered when Dr. Ramil and his family refuse to accept the child in her womb. In her time of need, Wayun made it through with a young Russian friend called "Nikolai". After a while, Dr. Ramil feels unhappy without her... but will they have another chance? | |
| Sacred Words to Inspire Love by ChomBulan Because a single young girl bluntly asked Goddess Caesar for a strange blessing, she was caught by the magic of time — sending her almost three years into the future. Unexpectedly she finds herself married. And that too, to a man who is nothing like her usual expectations. Instead, he is a tiger who loves to tease and annoy her! | |
| Throne of Flowers by Keedtaa When the time arrives for the position of the leader of the Satayarak empire to be passed down, Anawin, the heir thought that the golden throne discoveres that in order for him to obtain his inheritance, he has to allow a young woman named Putchompoo, the owner of a chrysanthemum plantation, to guide and mold him into being a mature person. | |
| One Star in the Sky by Wanwat Set in the era of the late Ayutthaya, before and after the second loss of Ayutthaya, this is a story about war and love. It is centered around a young Thai-Turkish man with a beautiful face like a woman, who disguises himself as a eunuch to enter the royal court and investigate a murder, and Chomkaen, a lovely and naughty daughter of a rich man. | |
| Label the Colour of Love by Indigo A love story between a foolish painter who is so humble that his body is almost buried in the earth, and a businessman who worships money above all. One day, an accident causes the painter to become a slave and work under the businessman to pay his debts. Is it possible that they will both drip their brushes in the paint of love? | |
| Fire Disguised as a Candle by Hatwee The one in the past life was like a candle, but the one in the future was like a raging flame. When a young model sees a girl with her face facing a lot of problems that the model was also facing — the young model was filled with vengeance. Then the 5 Chiang Mai gates opened to welcome her, allowing her to travel back to the past and clear all the unsettled scores. | |
| The Tale of a Thousand Stars by Bacteria A spoilt rich boy with a cardiac disease becomes interested in his heart's donor after a heart replacement surgery. Soon he finds himself traveling to the same forest village as a volunteer teacher, in order to find the Army officer mentioned in the donor's diary, as well as find a deeper meaning of life. | |
| Wild Heart by W. Winitchaikul The Phichitpong family had two sons, Pak and Phakorn. However, Pak was always overlooked by his father. Until one day, he decided to run away from home. This left Amawasee, a relative from Pak's step-family's side, extremely upset since she had loved him for 10 years. Then one day, a man called Raj Ratchaphum returns into their lives... seeking revenge. | |
| A Loyal and Faithful Wife by Saranjit First published in the 1950s, Padiwarada is a tale about a beautiful girl, Rin, who marries a police officer, Saran, in order to repay her adoptive parents for taking her in after she was abandoned as a baby. It is about her journey of creating love around her, of being a loyal and supporting wife in an era where love was quite different than it is today. | |
| Saneha Saree by Pongsakorn The fourth novel in Dr. Pongsakorn's "Ghost Fabric" series, Sanaeha sari was published in 2011, and is set around Nuannuerkaew and how she finds herself traveling to India for her sister's royal wedding, but finds herself embroiled in the matters of the royal family and a cursed saree that has chosen her to be its medium. In the midst of all of this, she also finds love... | |
It has been 18 years, a huge chunk of my life, and I have never looked back. Even when I began watching dramas and movies, I am unable to part from novels for a very long time and eventually find myself coming back to them.
I think this is why whenever I watch a drama or movie, I am always wondering whether they are adapted from a novel. | Unfortunately, unlike Chinese novels which have greater chances of being picked up by amazingly hardworking translation groups, Thai novels do not get translated officially or by fan-translators, unless they have upcoming BL dramas such as 2 Moons or are officially done so, such as Love Destiny or Prissana. Despite the sweet and sour barrier we have between us and Thai novels, let's continue to be curious about the novels behind our lakorns because sometimes it surprises us, and sometimes it helps us accept and understand the lakorn better. Besides, it's always fun to learn. Stay curious! Bye Bye! |
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