Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju has slowed down after its second weekend and has more or less completed its theatrical run. The Telugu horror-comedy started on a decent note and briefly gave Varun Tej hope of making a much-needed box-office comeback.
The film may not have turned into a big blockbuster, but the overall result is still encouraging for Varun Tej, especially considering his recent disastrous track record. The film was made on a modest budget, and the overall breakeven target was also not very high.
Korean Kanakaraju has collected around Rs. 30 crores gross in India so far, while the overseas gross stands at approximately Rs. 5 crores.
In North America, the film has managed around $435K. The US breakeven target was around $600K, so the film has fallen short there. It will therefore incur some losses in the North American market. However, the damage is limited in the US market.
Varun Tej, who was going through a seriously rough phase for the past three to four years, with a string of disasters, can get some much-needed breathing space from Korean Kanakaraju’s moderate success at the box office.
A big reason for the film’s decent run has been Satya’s presence and comic timing, which worked well with the audience and helped the film sustain a bit, not just in India but also in the US.
So, while Korean Kanakaraju is nowhere close to being a blockbuster for Varun Tej, it can certainly be viewed as a mini comeback and, more importantly, a relief after years of disappointment.
Varun Tej needs to use this result as a starting point and rebuild the credibility he has lost with the audience. The next few choices are extremely important. He needs to pick promising, exciting scripts and work with skilled filmmakers who can make the most of his strengths. Another wrong project could easily put him back into the same cycle.
For now, Korean Kanakaraju has given Varun Tej a decent and meaningful box-office win. The real challenge is turning this mini comeback into something bigger and better.
