How did the story of Korean Kanakaraju begin?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: I once travelled with a few friends to attend a wedding through Anantapur. During the night, we stopped near the Kia factory, and the place looked visually impressive. I learned that a separate community had been developed there for Korean employees, with restaurants and markets reflecting their culture.
The presence of a Korean community in a place like Anantapur fascinated me. I began thinking about a story that could connect Anantapur and Korea. That eventually led to the idea of a Korean spirit possessing a young man from Anantapur and the comedy that could emerge from that situation.
Was the story originally written for Varun Tej?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Initially, I had planned to narrate a different story to him. After discussing that idea, I also mentioned the Korean concept. He liked it immediately and asked me to develop it further. Once the complete script was ready, I narrated it again. He responded positively and suggested a few small but valuable changes. We worked together to improve the story.
Varun Tej is an actor I admire because he consistently experiments with fresh concepts. This film has both Kanakaraju’s personality and a Korean-influenced shade. I felt Varun was the right actor to handle both variations, and his physical presence suited the character perfectly.
Why is there usually a long gap between your films?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: I work on several stories at the same time. Sometimes, after developing a story to a certain point, I may no longer feel satisfied with it. I then set it aside and begin working on another idea. Finding the right actor for a particular story and fully preparing the screenplay also takes time. These are the main reasons for the gap between my films.
Your father is also a story writer. Would you direct one of his stories?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Yes, I would like to direct one of my father’s stories. However, our creative tastes are different. He prefers romantic stories, while I am more comfortable making fun-filled family entertainers. Still, I definitely want to make a film based on one of his stories in the future.
What can you tell us about Ritika’s character?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Ritika plays a woman who works at a Korean factory. She is deeply interested in Korean culture and can speak the Korean language. Her appearance and styling also match that cultural background. She has several Korean dialogues in the film. We brought a tutor from Korea to train both the hero and heroine in the language. We also hired a tutor from Anantapur to help the actors learn the local dialect accurately.
What about the other characters?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: This is a complete fun entertainer. Sathya, Muralidhar Goud, Sunil and the other actors have highly entertaining roles. There is even a mafia don in the story, but the character is not treated seriously. Everything is presented with humour. A major portion of the comedy begins after the Korean spirit possesses the hero. He starts speaking in Korean, while the people around him cannot understand anything, creating several hilarious situations.
Was it easy to obtain permission to shoot in Korea?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: It was not easy. The visa process was difficult both for us travelling there and for Korean professionals travelling to India. We filmed for around 20 days on an island in Korea. From the beginning, we were certain that some portions had to be shot in Korea. Since filming there is expensive, we travelled with a limited crew. We also shot a few sequences in Kazakhstan.
Does the film include emotion and romance along with comedy?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Yes. Apart from fun and entertainment, the film has a strong emotional layer. There is also a beautiful love story between the hero and heroine.
Are you planning a sequel?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Yes, we have an idea for a possible sequel.
How is Thaman’s music for the film?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Thaman has delivered excellent music. The two songs released so far have received a very good response. His background score and re-recording are also extraordinary and will significantly enhance the theatrical experience.
How confident are you about the film’s success?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: I strongly believe that the film will make audiences laugh and keep them entertained. Varun Tej and I took great care with every aspect of the project. We worked with a strong desire to deliver a solid hit. I am confident that the audience will enjoy the film.
What is your dream project?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: At present, Korean Kanakaraju is my dream project. (Laughs.)
Which actor do you feel most comfortable working with?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: I involve every actor from the script stage itself. I listen to their suggestions and consider their inputs. Because of this process, we usually become good friends from the beginning. I share a strong friendship with Sharwanand, Nani and Varun Tej. I have enjoyed working with all of them.
How did the project with Varun Tej materialise?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Producer Rajeev Reddy informed me that Varun Tej was looking to make a film in an entertaining genre. I then narrated this story to him. UV Vamsi and Rajeev Reddy arranged the meeting. Varun was surprised by the concept as soon as he heard it and responded very positively.
What was the biggest challenge for Varun Tej?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Speaking in the Anantapur dialect and delivering Korean dialogues were both new challenges for him. His behaviour after being possessed by the spirit is also very different from his regular roles. He accepted these challenges seriously and worked extremely hard. The way the film combines Korean and Anantapur cultures will attract audiences. There will be no confusion during the Korean dialogues. Telugu subtitles will appear on screen whenever the characters speak in Korean.
What are your upcoming projects?
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: I am currently working on another story. It will also be in the comedy-thriller genre. Comedy is the genre in which I feel most comfortable.
All the best.
Director Merlapaka Gandhi: Thank you.
