'Korean Kanakaraju' Movie Review

Movie Review: ‘Korean Kanakaraju'

Cast: Varun Tej, Ritika Nayak, Satya, Sunil, Muralidhar Goud, VTV Ganesh, Avasarala Srinivas, Chinna, Tulasi, and others.

Music: Thaman

Cinematography: Manoj Reddy

Producers: Rajeev Reddy, Saibabu Jagarlamudi

Writer & Director: Merlapaka Gandhi

For a long time, Mega hero Varun Tej has been waiting to score a blockbuster at the box office. Even director Merlapaka Gandhi is also waiting for the same. They have come together with Korean Kanakaraju now, whose promos are interesting and hitting cinemas today. Let’s have a look at it.

STORY:

Kanakaraju (Varun Tej) belongs to Penugonda, Anantapur District in Andhra Pradesh and leads his life by running a folk-bhajana troupe. Being a short-tempered guy, he never spares anyone who crosses him. However, after one particular altercation, he starts to behave erratically, which leads to finding that a ghost possesses him. Later, it shocks everyone as it comes out that a Korean ghost possesses him. How a Penugonda guy got possessed by a Korean ghost is the major twist, and how Kanakaraju escapes or not from its clutches is the rest of the story.

NARRATION-ANALYSIS:

Director Merlapaka Gandhi is known for crafting entertainment, as his films like Venkatadri Express and Express Raja are a testimony of that. If the story could offer that comedy, he shines with entertaining writing and trendy fun. However, when he tried something different, films like Krishnarjuna Yuddham and Like Share Subscribe failed to click. But this time, he believed in his strength alone. However, he hasn’t carved anything special, but believed only in routine fare, a trope that’s used in Telugu films by directors like Maruthi umpteen times. However, the routine feels something special due to the Korean touch. Known for writing gripping comedy and conceiving it, he designed a couple of belly-bursting laugh riot sequences. Though it’s not a wow-ish kind of movie, surely it makes time pass like anything.

Telugu audiences got too bored with the genre ‘horror comedy’ as similar types of stories kept repeating. A ghost enters the lead character, and he/she creates havoc is a repetitive story, and Korean Kanakaraju is a similar horror story. However, Gandhi made a ghost from Korea enter this Anantapur guy, where he scored marks. The link he created with the Kia Car plant in Anantapur is a highlight. As ghost stories don’t rely on logic, some of the happenings sound convenient, and while the take-off is good, the middle portions are unexciting. Sequences like the hero’s introduction are routine; however, once the Korean ghost possesses him, the story gets the deserved push.

With the hero’s role turning super crazy, and he’s supported by a stunner of comedy timing, Satya, there is no dearth of entertainment. In some places, Satya dominated the hero to deliver the fun stuff. Especially his scene where he shouts ‘Korea Korea’ is hilarious. Similarly, in the second half, the black magic episode also turned out to be highly funny. While the second half loses steam for some time after the hero enters Korea, this episode gives a boost to the narrative again. Both in the first and second halves, the graph dips and rises. However, the backstory of the Korean guy whose ghost enters the hero isn’t convincing. While Varun Tej’s Korean makeover is engaging, at one point the Korea episode bores the audience. In the end, they have added a divine angle to the movie, which might impress some and won’t connect to others. However, as a finishing touch, Gandhi showed his mark by sending the audience out of theatres in splits. On the whole, though Korean Kanakaraju’s format is not new, the film sounds fresh due to the varied backdrop, and the occasional slowdown won’t deter from providing the paisa vasool entertainment.

PERFORMANCES:

After a string of flops, Varun Tej took time to find a suitable story and role, and was impressive with his performance. For the kind of cut-out he has, the possession role is a huge bonus. At one point, he created an impact that no other hero would fit into this role. The body language he adapted after getting possessed is an impressive makeover for Varun Tej. Heroine Ritika Nayak looks cute and impresses with her presence, though there’s nothing huge to boast about. Coming to Satya, he’s a proven jockey, and this amazing character is just another example. His expressions and comedy timing are hilarious. The actor who did the Korean ghost is just okay. Avasarala Srinivasa is fine. VTV Ganesh’s comedy hasn’t clicked. Sunil’s role has no scope, while other artists are okay.

TECHNICALITIES:

Coming to Korean Kanakaraju’s music, Thaman’s music hasn’t shown the magic. While Rasa Gummadi is fine, other songs haven’t clicked. His BGM is mostly uneven, as it gives jitters at some places and goosebumps at others. During the Korean episode, it feels like we’re listening to the #OG music again. As Varun Tej’s body language also looks like it’s imitating Pawan Kalyan, this feeling is intensified. Manoj Reddy’s cinematography is colourful with impressive visuals. Production values are top-notch. Writer and director Merlapaka Gandhi crafted an entertaining film only, though it’s not like his previous films. Some comedy sequences and dialogues are attractive, and the latest Gen’s ‘Amateurish’ Punch is a testimony of that. Though there are some flaws in writing and conceiving, on the whole, Korean Kanakaraju never bores you.

Lastly: Korean Kanakaraju, A foreign ghost’s laugh riot

Rating: 2.75/5