Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju is set to premiere on Netflix from September 4, 2026, following its successful theatrical run in August. The horror-comedy will be available in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi, giving the quirky Indo-Korean film a wider reach beyond its theatrical market.
About Korean Kanakaraju
Korean Kanakaraju is an unusual horror-comedy that blends Rayalaseema flavour with Korean culture and supernatural elements. Directed and written by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film stars Varun Tej in the titular role, with Ritika Nayak and Satya playing key parts. The story follows Kanakaraju, a hot-headed young man whose life takes a bizarre turn when a Korean spirit possesses him, forcing him to deal with his new supernatural identity while trying to protect his family and uncover the mystery surrounding the spirit’s death. Produced by UV Creations and First Frame Entertainments, the film features music by Thaman S and cinematography by Manojh Reddy.
Theatrical Performance & Reception
Korean Kanakaraju opened in theatres on August 7 and received a positive-to-mixed response, with the comedy, Varun Tej’s performance and Satya’s comic timing emerging as major talking points. The film benefited from its unusual Indo-Korean premise, which gave it a distinct identity among recent Telugu releases.
Commercially, the film maintained decent momentum beyond its opening weekend. It crossed ₹20 crore worldwide in its first three days and ultimately collected over ₹25 crore worldwide during its theatrical run, being described as a commercial success. Chiranjeevi attended the film’s success meet and praised director Merlapaka Gandhi for bringing Korean culture and flavour into the story.
Korean Kanakaraju Netflix Streaming Details
The Korean Kanakaraju Netflix release will begin streaming from September 4, 2026, according to the platform’s current listing. The film will be available in Telugu along with dubbed versions in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. With its quirky supernatural premise and blend of comedy, horror and Korean elements, the Netflix release could help Korean Kanakaraju reach audiences who missed its theatrical release, particularly in markets where the film had limited screens.
