Reported production budget (compiled from public trade sources).
Korean Kanakaraju Verdict: Below Average
Based on worldwide collections versus the reported budget (about 0.86x recovery). This is an indicative trade-style reading of the completed theatrical run tracked by Tenvow.
Other Cast: Satya, Sunil, Daksha Nagarkar, VTV Ganesh
Cinematography: Manojh Reddy Katasani
Edited by: Satya G
Music by: Thaman S
Production Companies: UV Creations, First Frame Entertainment
Distributed by: Data not found
Release Date: 7 August 2026
Running Time: 2h 45m
Country: India
Language: Telugu
Film Industry: Tollywood
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Censor Rating: UA16+
About The Film
Korean Kanakaraju is a Telugu horror comedy directed and written by Merlapaka Gandhi. The film stars Varun Tej in the lead role, with Ritika Nayak and Satya in important roles. It was released theatrically in Telugu on 7 August 2026 and has a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The film is produced by First Frame Entertainment, Haashtag Media and UV Creations. The story follows Kanakaraju, a young man from the Rayalaseema region whose life changes after an unusual incident involving Korea.
A spirit connected to Korea enters his life and creates a series of strange and supernatural situations. This forms the basis for the film’s horror and comedy elements. As Kanakaraju deals with the unexpected events, the story brings together characters from different cultural backgrounds.
The film uses the contrast between Rayalaseema and Korean settings to create situations involving humour, confusion and supernatural occurrences. Merlapaka Gandhi has directed the film, while Thaman S has composed the music. Manojh Reddy has handled the cinematography and Satya G. is credited with the editing.
Varun Tej plays the central character, with Ritika Nayak and Satya supporting him. The film combines supernatural elements with comedy and cultural differences as the characters deal with the unusual events surrounding Kanakaraju.
Rebecca Vaiphei is a box office reporter and film analyst at Tenvow.com. She covers theatrical collections across India and the United States day wise figures, weekend holds, and longer run tracking with a focus on clear, data led reporting for readers following how a film performs in each market.
