The Telugu horror comedy Korean Kanakaraju, starring Varun Tej, Ritika Nayak, and Satya, is making its way to digital platforms. The film, which hit theatres on August 7, 2026, will begin streaming on Netflix from September 4, 2026. Viewers can watch it in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi.
The OTT platform made the announcement with a playful message: “Ee sari mana dhandha oorlo kaadhu, Korea lo (This time, our business isn’t in the village, it’s in Korea). Watch Korean Kanakaraju on Netflix, out 4 September”. The streaming platform’s catalogue already shows the film available for streaming from that date.
What is Korean Kanakaraju About
The film follows Kanakaraju (Varun Tej), a short-tempered man from Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh, who runs a traditional Bhajana troupe. He is in love with Chaitra (Ritika Nayak), a local girl who works at a motor plant and dreams of going to South Korea, fascinated by K-pop and K-dramas.
Everything changes when a mysterious vessel carrying the remains of a Korean man arrives in the village. After a strange accident, Kanakaraju drinks the contents and becomes possessed by the Korean man’s spirit. He starts showing incredible speed, martial arts abilities, and sword-fighting skills whenever Korea is mentioned.
The spirit has an unfinished mission that can only be completed in South Korea. To get his normal life back, Kanakaraju travels to Korea with Chaitra and his photographer friend Krishnappa (Satya). What follows is a comedic clash between Korean and Rayalaseema cultures.
Cast and Crew
Varun Tej Konidela plays the lead role of Kanakaraju. Ritika Nayak appears as Chaitra, the female lead. Satya plays Kishtappa, Kanakaraju’s friend, and his comedy is one of the film’s highlights.
The supporting cast includes Sunil Varma, Daksha Nagarkar, VTV Ganesh, Mahesh Achanta, and Srinivas Avasarala.
Merlapaka Gandhi directed and wrote the film. Sai Babu Jagarlamudi and Y Rajeev Reddy produced it under First Frame Entertainments and UV Creations. Thaman S composed the music. Manojh Reddy handled cinematography, with Satyaa G serving as editor.
Box Office Performance
The film opened to mixed reviews from critics. Audiences praised Varun Tej and Satya’s comic timing, but the weak story and the second half received criticism.
According to trade website Sacnilk, Korean Kanakaraju collected ₹23.65 crore net in India and ₹32.76 crore worldwide. It was made on an estimated budget of ₹40 crore. Other reports suggest the film crossed Rs 50 crore worldwide and recovered its Rs 15 crore break-even target during the opening weekend.
The film managed to put up a decent show during its first few days. On Day 6, it earned an estimated Rs 1.32 crore net in India from 1,736 shows, with around 20% occupancy. The India net total reached approximately Rs 18.22 crore, with a worldwide gross of around Rs 25.54 crore.
The Controversy Around the Parody Scene
When Korean Kanakaraju released in theatres, a controversy arose around a parody scene. The scene featured comedian Satya recreating a moment and dialogue from the late actor-politician Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao’s film Yuga Purushudu (1978).
Some viewers criticized the film’s team for ‘insulting’ NTR. Questions were raised about why the meme resurfaced right before the film’s release, with the internet suggesting it was part of a PR strategy.
Varun Tej later clarified that the scene was shot last year as lighthearted comedy and that they meant no disrespect. The controversy did not stop the film from performing well at the box office.
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Why the Film Worked
Korean Kanakaraju brought a fresh concept to Telugu cinema by blending horror and comedy with an Indo-Korean storyline. The film’s quirky premise connects Andhra Pradesh with South Korea while using supernatural elements alongside humour.
Director Merlapaka Gandhi used his signature style to blend horror and comedy perfectly. The Korean backdrop gave the film a fresh touch, and the comedy, especially from Satya, became one of the film’s biggest highlights.
After a string of flops over the past couple of years, Varun Tej bounced back with Korean Kanakaraju. The film ended his disappointing run and gave him a much-needed commercial success.
Also Read: Varun Tej Korean Kanakaraju Controversy: Satya NTR Spoof Scene Creates Backlash on Social Media
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