Japan bows to Nagarjuna: Inside the ‘Nag-Sama’ phenomenon

Japanese audiences have shown remarkable affection for Telugu cinema in recent years, whether it was Baahubali propelling Prabhas to stardom, or RRR drawing crowds to screenings and inspiring a fan to learn Telugu just to speak with Jr NTR.

Now, joining this elite list of Telugu stars adored in Japan is Akkineni Nagarjuna. The actor has found a devoted fan base that affectionately calls him “Nag-sama.” What does sama mean in Japanese?In Japanese culture, the suffix “sama” is reserved for deities, royalty, or individuals held in high esteem, a mark of the deep admiration he has earned.

Why are fans calling him ‘Nag-Sama’?While Nagarjuna has been a towering figure in Telugu cinema for decades, his role in Brahmāstra first introduced him to a global audience.

But it was his recent portrayal as Deepak in Kuberaa that seems to have struck a chord with Japanese audiences, who have commended the actor’s calm yet commanding presence on screen.

@ranpo292I watched Kuberaa.It was fun! Dhanush is so cuteHer way of speaking and facial expressions were both lovely. I fell for Deepak.....it wasunexpectedly good...So that person is Nagu-sama, huh ~ !There was something amazing overflowing from it, and the melancholy of old age was irresistible!!@akiyama_0_0What makes Kuberaa so appealing is the presence of Nagu in this film.

Usually, my comments would be something like, “This is what Nag-sama’s role in this movie isgood at.”The part where you think, “Deepak Sir is...”It makes you realize that you are seeing it through the characters.The same goes for Aneesh Shetty in Brahmastra.