Mega Prince Varun Tej has expressed confidence in his upcoming horror comedy Korean Kanakaraju, describing it as a complete family entertainer packed with supernatural elements and non-stop humour.
Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film is jointly produced by UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment. It is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 7, 2026. Special paid premieres will be held across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the night of August 6, a day before the official release.
The makers organised a grand pre-release event at SRKR Engineering College in Bhimavaram as part of the film’s promotional campaign. Varun Tej, Ritika Nayak, music director S. Thaman and other members of the film’s team attended the event.
Varun Tej Confident About Korean Kanakaraju
Addressing fans at the event, Varun Tej said Korean Kanakaraju would provide audiences with a fun-filled theatrical experience.
“Korean Kanakaraju will offer non-stop entertainment in theatres. We are very confident about the film, which is why we are holding premieres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on the night of August 6,” Varun Tej said.
The actor recalled attending the Tholi Prema event at the same venue in 2018. He said returning to the college for the promotion of Korean Kanakaraju brought back special memories.
Varun Tej hoped that the new movie would recreate the success and positive sentiment associated with Tholi Prema. He thanked the students and fans for their enthusiastic response at the event.
Varun Tej Praises Merlapaka Gandhi
Speaking about director Merlapaka Gandhi, Varun Tej praised his strong command over comedy and said the filmmaker had presented him in a fresh and entertaining role.
He expressed confidence that Korean Kanakaraju would become another major success in Gandhi’s career.
The actor also thanked producers V. Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Pramod Uppalapati and the First Frame Entertainment team for supporting the project and making it on a large scale.
Thaman’s Music a Major Highlight
Varun Tej described S. Thaman’s music and background score as vital elements of the film. He revealed that he had closely followed the film’s re-recording work and praised Thaman for elevating the horror and comedy sequences.
This marks another collaboration between Varun Tej and Thaman following their earlier successful films.
The teaser, trailer and songs released ahead of the movie have helped generate strong interest among audiences. The trailer, launched by Ram Charan, presents a mix of Telugu humour, Korean settings and supernatural incidents.
Varun Tej Praises Ritika Nayak and Satya
Varun Tej praised Ritika Nayak for her performance and described her as a talented and supportive co-star. Ritika plays a character named Chaitra in the film.
He also highlighted comedian Satya’s role as Krishnappa, saying that no other actor came to mind when the character was written. Varun Tej said his combination scenes with Satya would provide some of the film’s biggest laughs.
The actor thanked the entire cast and technical team for their contribution to the project.
Ritika Nayak Thanks the Film Team
Ritika Nayak thanked director Merlapaka Gandhi for offering her the role of Chaitra. She said the character would remain memorable in her career and added that she had learned extensively while working with the director.
She also praised Varun Tej and expressed her desire to work with him again. Ritika thanked the producers for making the film without compromising on its scale or technical quality.
The actress urged audiences to watch Korean Kanakaraju in theatres and experience its comedy and supernatural elements on the big screen.
Thaman Calls Korean Kanakaraju Special
Music director S. Thaman described Bhimavaram as a special place because the team had previously visited the city during the promotion of Tholi Prema.
Thaman said he had watched the completed film and was highly impressed by Merlapaka Gandhi’s vision. He praised UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment for producing the project on an impressive scale.
The composer expressed confidence that audiences would enjoy the film’s unusual combination of horror, humour and an Indo-Korean setting.
Korean Kanakaraju Release Date
Korean Kanakaraju will have special premiere shows in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from the night of Thursday, August 6, 2026. Its regular worldwide theatrical release is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2026.
The Telugu horror comedy stars Varun Tej, Ritika Nayak and Satya in prominent roles. Merlapaka Gandhi has written and directed the film, while S. Thaman has composed the music.
With its Korean backdrop, supernatural storyline and comedy-driven presentation, the film aims to offer an entertaining theatrical experience for family audiences.
