Kanakaraju Is a Hit, but Gandhi Has Some Misses

Article by Kumar Published on: 12:28 pm, 11 August 2026

Korean Kanakaraju has emerged as a successful film at the box office and has given Varun Tej a much-needed comeback. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the movie clicked with audiences mainly because of its entertaining comedy and Varun Tej’s energetic performance.

However, despite the positive result, director Gandhi needs to rectify a few issues. One of its biggest drawbacks is the excessive use of VFX, especially during the climax. Instead of enhancing the experience, the visual effects end up looking artificial. This clearly gives the idea that the director should have ended the film much earlier and not tried to force action on the audience just for the sake of it.

Another issue is the handling of Varun Tej’s dual shades. The contrast between the innocent villager and the ghost gangster character had potential, but the writing and presentation did not fully click. Several scenes, particularly in the second half, also lacked heroic moments that could have elevated the film big time.

The comedy works, but modern audiences expect more than just laughs. Core drama is equally important, which was missing in Korean Kanakaraju. Gandhi should make sure that his future projects take care of these aspects as well.

While the film has turned out to be a commercial success, Merlapaka Gandhi can take these lessons, and if he balances comedy with stronger emotions, better character arcs, and drama, his next films could reach an even wider audience.