Chiranjeevi Praises Varun Tej and ‘Korean Kanakaraju’ Team at Blockbuster Celebrations

Megastar Chiranjeevi attended the grand success celebrations of Varun Tej’s latest film Korean Kanakaraju and used the occasion to applaud the entire team behind the horror-comedy. The event, held after the film’s successful theatrical run, brought together members of the cast and crew to celebrate the response from audiences.

Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, Korean Kanakaraju features Varun Tej in the lead, with Ritika Nayak and comedian Satya among the prominent cast members. Chiranjeevi, who attended the celebrations as the chief guest, spoke about the importance of acknowledging a film’s success and thanked audiences for supporting the movie.

Chiranjeevi Says Film Success Brings Happiness to the Entire Industry

During his address, Chiranjeevi highlighted that the success of a movie is not limited to its lead actors. According to him, a successful film brings happiness to performers, technicians, producers, distributors and exhibitors alike.

He said he was particularly happy to be part of the celebrations and felt that successful films deserved to be celebrated. He also expressed his gratitude to audiences, pointing out that their support ultimately gives everyone associated with a movie the opportunity to enjoy such moments.

For Chiranjeevi, the response to Korean Kanakaraju was another indication that audiences continue to support theatrical cinema when filmmakers offer engaging content.

Merlapaka Gandhi Gets Special Praise

A significant portion of Chiranjeevi’s speech focused on director Merlapaka Gandhi. The Megastar credited the filmmaker’s approach as one of the important reasons behind the movie’s appeal.

While horror-comedies have been explored several times in Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi felt that bringing a Korean setting and cultural flavour into the narrative gave this film a distinctive identity. He appreciated Gandhi for attempting something different rather than simply following an established formula.

Chiranjeevi also wished the director success with his future projects and praised his ability to deliver the film within the planned production framework.

Varun Tej’s Choice of Roles Appreciated

Chiranjeevi also spoke warmly about Varun Tej’s career and his willingness to experiment with different characters and stories.

He recalled films such as Mukunda, Kanche and Antariksham while pointing out that Varun has repeatedly attempted roles and subjects that are different from conventional commercial choices. According to Chiranjeevi, this reflects the actor’s desire to establish himself through performance rather than simply depend on a familiar image.

The Megastar expressed confidence that Varun could strengthen his position as a distinctive performer if he continued to follow the same approach.

He also added a playful family reference during his speech, joking that the success should be credited to Varun’s young son, Vayuv Tej, whom he affectionately described as the family’s lucky charm.

Satya and Ritika Nayak Also Receive Praise

Chiranjeevi singled out comedian Satya for his contribution to the movie. He praised Satya’s performance and noted that his work was among the elements that added considerable entertainment value to the film.

Satya could not attend the success event because of his shooting commitments, but Chiranjeevi still made it a point to acknowledge his contribution.

Ritika Nayak was also praised for her performance, with Chiranjeevi appreciating her screen presence and acting. He additionally mentioned actor Murali Goud while congratulating the supporting cast for their work.

Thaman’s Music Adds to the Film

Music composer S. Thaman was another member of the team who received special appreciation from Chiranjeevi.

The actor described Thaman as someone close to his heart and praised the energy he brings to his work. He felt that the composer’s music played an important role in giving the movie additional impact.

Chiranjeevi extended his congratulations to the other technicians and members of the production team as well. Producer Rajeev Reddy and other members associated with the project were also acknowledged during his address.

A Positive Sign for Telugu Cinema

Chiranjeevi also looked at the film’s success in the wider context of Telugu cinema in 2026. He pointed to a series of movies that have received encouraging responses from audiences during the second half of the year.

His broader message was that viewers are still willing to come to theatres when filmmakers deliver content that connects with them. The success of Korean Kanakaraju, in his view, adds to that trend.

The celebrations therefore became more than just an event marking the performance of one film. Chiranjeevi’s speech highlighted the collective effort required to make a movie work and credited the audience, director, actors, musicians, producers and technicians for contributing to the achievement.

For Varun Tej and the Korean Kanakaraju team, the event served as a celebratory milestone following the film’s theatrical success, while Chiranjeevi’s words offered encouragement to continue experimenting with fresh stories and distinctive characters.