OTT Release Details
Varun Tej's horror-comedy 'Korean Kanakaraju' is set to make its digital debut on Netflix on September 4, 2026, according to the streaming platform's catalogue. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, will be available in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, as reported by NewsX. The Times of India confirmed the release date and noted the film is listed as a 2-hour-42-minute Telugu title on the platform.
The Netflix announcement plays on the film's central premise with the line: "Ee sari mana dhandha oorlo kaadhu, Korea lo" or, "This time, our business isn't in the village, it's in Korea," according to NewsX.
The Film's Story
The film follows Kanakaraju, played by Varun Tej, a hot-tempered but carefree young man from Rayalaseema who runs a traditional Bhajana troupe while caring for his family. He is in love with Chaitra, a local girl who works at a motor plant and dreams of going to South Korea, fascinated by Korean culture, K-pop and K-dramas, as detailed by The Times of India.
Kanakaraju's life changes after a mysterious vessel carrying the remains of a Korean man arrives. After drinking its contents, he becomes possessed by the Korean man's spirit. NewsX described the character as a "hot-headed young man" who becomes possessed by the spirit of a Korean gangster, while The Times of India reported that Kanakaraju starts showing incredible speed and martial arts skills whenever someone talks about Korea, and develops sword-fighting abilities.
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, as per The Times of India. NewsX noted the story takes the characters from rural Andhra Pradesh to South Korea, creating a clash between Rayalaseema sensibilities and Korean crime-world chaos.
Cast and Crew
'Korean Kanakaraju' stars Varun Tej Konidela and Ritika Nayak in lead roles, with Satya, Sunil Varma, Daksha Nagarkar, VTV Ganesh, Mahesh Achanta and Srinivas Avasarala also part of the cast, according to The Times of India. Thaman has composed the music.
NewsX reported that Satya plays Kishtappa, Kanakaraju's friend, and Ritika Nayak plays Chaitra, a woman fascinated by Korean culture. The film blends Rayalaseema humour with a supernatural story set against a Korean backdrop.
Controversy Over NTR Imitation Scene
The film faced controversy over a scene featuring Satya imitating veteran actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's iconic dialogue from the 1978 film 'Yuga Purushudu', as reported by NewsX. Some NTR fans criticised the sequence and questioned whether the makers had deliberately used a recently viral meme to promote the film.
Varun Tej later clarified that the intention was imitation, not ridicule. He said the scene had been shot in November 2025 and that the team had no intention of disrespecting NTR, according to NewsX. Director Merlapaka Gandhi also said the scene was conceived when the meme was trending online.
Theatrical Run
The film opened in cinemas on August 7. NewsX reported that its theatrical run received a mixed response, with several reviews highlighting the lead actors' comic timing while finding the writing and second half uneven.