The teaser for Korean Kanakaraju introduces Varun Tej as a Rayalaseema youth whose life upends when a vessel from Korea brings a spirit that possesses him, turning him into Korean Kanakaraju. Blending rural Penukonda with Korean backdrops, the horror comedy teases supernatural chaos and humour, featuring Ritika Naik as a key Korean character and Satya in comic support, ahead of its August 7 worldwide release.
The teaser for Korean Kanakaraju, the upcoming Telugu horror comedy starring Varun Tej, Ritika Naik and Satya, was released on July 13. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 7. It is produced by Rajeev Reddy and Sai Babu Jagarlamudi under the UV Creations and First Frame Entertainment banners.
The teaser opens with a voiceover by Varun Tej's Kanakaraju, introducing himself and his hometown of Penukonda in Rayalaseema. The voiceover establishes the film's setting and his character's background as a local youth. The story takes a turn when a vessel arriving from Korea brings with it a supernatural presence, and Kanakaraju finds himself possessed by a Korean spirit, leading to his transformation into Korean Kanakaraju.
Shifting between the rural landscape of Penukonda and sequences set in Korea, the teaser establishes the film's central conflict around the Kanakaraju's possession and the comic and supernatural consequences that follow. Ritika Naik plays a Korean girl at the centre of the plot, and comedian Satya appears alongside Varun Tej in several scenes.
Written and directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film's technical crew includes Thaman S as music composer, Manojh Reddy as cinematographer and Satyaa G as editor. The film is reported to have been shot across locations in Rayalaseema and South Korea.
Merlapaka Gandhi returns to direction and writing with this film after Like, Share & Subscribe (2022), Maestro (2021) and Krishnarjuna Yudham (2018).
Varun Tej's recent outings include Matka (2024), directed by Karuna Kumar, and the Hindi-language action thriller Operation Valentine (2024), directed by Shakti Pratap Singh. Co-lead Ritika Naik was last seen in Mirai (2025), written and directed by Karthik Gattamneni, and Hi Nanna (2023) alongside Nani and Mrunal Thakur. Satya was most recently seen in Peddi (2026), starring Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor and Shivarajkumar, and Alcohol (2026), directed by Meher Tej.