Movie Name : Korean Kanakaraju
Release Date : August 07, 2026
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Varun Tej, Ritika Nayak, Satya and Others
Director : Merlapaka Gandhi
Producers : Rajeev Reddy Yeduguru, Pramod Uppalapati, Vamsi Krishna Reddy
Music Director : Thaman S
Cinematographer : Manojh Reddy
Editor : Satyaa G
Related Links : Trailer
After a very long time, a Varun Tej film arrived in cinemas with good hype. The movie in discussion is Korean Kanakaraju, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi. Ritika Nayak plays the female lead in this horror comedy. Let’s see how the film is.
Story:
Kanakaraju (Varun Tej) heads a traditional folk performance troupe in Penukonda, in the Rayalaseema region. He falls for Chaitra (Ritika Nayak), who works at the Kia plant and is a K-pop fanatic. Somehow, Kanakaraju gets close to Chaitra, but his life turns upside down when a Korean spirit possesses him.
What is the backstory of the spirit? How and why did it enter Kanakaraju’s body? What do Kanakaraju, Chaitra, and his friend Kisttappa do to get rid of the problem? This forms the crux of the story.
Plus Points:
Horror-comedy is one genre in which Tollywood has been lagging behind over the last few years. It is a genre that can do wonders commercially, but it is equally challenging to crack. Merlapaka Gandhi rose to the occasion and delivered a neat film that has entertainment spread throughout its runtime.
Kudos to Merlapaka Gandhi for coming up with a clean entertainer infused with healthy comedy throughout. The director grabbed eyeballs with Venkatadri Express and Express Raja, and after a while, he has once again left his mark with this one.
There are several blocks that will make you laugh your heart out. Varun Tej and Satya’s combo scenes will tickle your funny bone. The best part about the screenplay is that it neatly generates comedy while also telling the story in parallel. The plot is never obstructed or halted to bring in fun.
The film entirely belongs to Varun Tej and Satya. Varun is splendid in both avatars, showcasing ample variation. He is likeable as Kanakaraju, while he looks pretty stylish as the Korean guy. Satya is a true gem unearthed by the industry. His histrionics and comic timing are utilized to the best in this film.
Ritika Nayak plays her part quite nicely and helps the story progress forward. Master Revanth, Muralidhar Goud, and the Korean actors lend a good support.
Minus Points:
The entire team had one intention in their minds, which was to entertain the audience thoroughly. In this process, they threw the logical part out of the window at times. To enjoy the magic, one should ignore the logical errors.
What could have been a blockbuster is slightly undermined by the climax and not-so-great CGI. This portion isn’t handled at its best and also feels rushed. Some explanations should have been given to make things better. The violence could have been toned down at certain instances as the film is made for family audience.
Technical Aspects:
Thaman gave decent songs, and the background score is impactful, working well with the situations. Manojh Reddy’s cinematography is stunning. Especially, the visuals during the Korean portions are well captured. Editor Satyaa did a solid job in ensuring the pacing remained tight.
Coming to writer-director Merlapaka Gandhi, he has instilled good hope for Tollywood in churning out horror comedies. The narrative is peppered with amusing episodes consistently. The one liners keep coming and deliver plenty of laughs. Even the much-viral ‘amateurish’ dialogue has been used effectively. One particular block in the second half featuring Satya, Ritika Nayak, and Muralidhar Goud is hilarious to say the least.
Verdict:
On the whole, Korean Kanakaraju is a neat horror-comedy entertainer that keeps the laughs coming consistently. The Indo-Korean crossover, healthy comedy, Varun Tej’s dual avatar, and Satya’s fantastic comedy timing keep the proceedings entertaining. Some blemishes include logic taking a backseat and an underwhelming climax with below-par CGI. That said, Korean Kanakaraju is a fun watch that delivers good entertainment. Recommended.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team