Movie Name : Kannappa
Release Date : June 27, 2025
Cast : Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Sarat Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Saptagiri etc.
Director : Mukesh Kumar Singh
Music Director : Stephen Devassy
Telugumopo.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
Shaped by bitter experiences in his childhood, Thinnadu (Manchu Vishnu) grows up as a staunch atheist. His strongest opposition is directed at Maremma (Aishwarya Bhaskaran), a fearsome tribal priestess who demands human sacrifice for the welfare of their village. Though filled with rage, Thinnadu chooses silence—unable to go against the wishes of his father, Nathanathudu (Sarath Kumar), the village chief.
Deep within the forest, there live four ancient tribal communities. Among these, the tribe of Bhadraganam is keeping a divine secret — the Vayulingam, the symbol of Lord Shiva’s strength. It is well hidden and secretly worshiped by the devout Mahadeva Shasthri (Mohan Babu).
But peace is threatened when Kala Mukha (Arpit Ranka), a ruthless force driven by dark desires, sets his sights on the Vayulingam. To stop him, Nathanaadudu urges all four tribes to come together and fight for their survival.
Will Thinnadu and the others unite against evil? Can they protect the Vayulingam from falling into the wrong hands? Will Thinnadu’s wife Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), who longs to witness the divine relic, see her wish fulfilled? And how does Lord Shiva (Akshay Kumar), through the fierce Rudra (Prabhas), guide Thinnadu from disbelief to devotion?
Review:
Manchu Vishnu is initially unsure if he can fit in the role of Kannappa, but he is a surprise in some of the major scenes. Although he does not appear to be the best fit for the role at the beginning, he slowly becomes popular with the audience. His authenticity during the do-or-die scene is what catches attention, and how well he delivers Kannappa’s character change from an atheist to a hardcore Shiva believer impresses.
Visually, Vishnu’s sculpted physique, styled beard, and tattoos give him a modern look that feels somewhat out of place in a mythological setting. Nonetheless, his acting makes Kannappa one of the memorable roles in his career.
Preity Mukhundhan delivers an okay performance, excelling more in glamour than in conveying the spiritual depth of her character. Despite being shown as a devotee of Shiva, her appearance doesn’t quite reflect that spirituality.
Prabhas makes an impact with his brief cameo, relying mainly on his strong screen presence. Mohanlal’s performance as the role is good but not impactful as desired. Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, dubbed appropriately, and Kajal Aggarwal as Parvati are satisfactory.
Mohan Babu, as Mahadeva Shasthri, is noticed at first but fades into the background later, though he excels in the climax. Sarath Kumar is impressive as Thinnadu’s father, but his dubbing is a bit misplaced.
The villain Kala Mukha, played by Arpit Ranka, lacks menace and fails to leave a strong impression. Madhubala seems miscast as Pannaga. Though many notable actors like Brahmanandam appear, most are underused.
Manchu Vishnu’s ambitious Kannappa rides on a time-tested tale — the transformation of Thinnadu, an atheist, into the iconic devotee who offers his eyes to Lord Shiva. It’s a story rich with emotion and spiritual depth, one that moved generations before and still holds potential for today’s audience. That emotional core is the reason behind Vishnu’s passion and the grand scale of the film.
But Kannappa, despite its noble intentions, falters in execution.
The first half struggles with pacing. The story progresses slowly, weighed down by forced world-building, flat characters, and weak subplots. Tribal traditions, personal conflicts, and the love story don’t leave any impression. Even the villain’s progression is weak. Although the film attempts to find pace from the second half, it fails to pick up until Prabhas enters as Rudra.
Prabhas doesn’t have much screen time or scope for performance, but his sheer presence breathes life into the film. From that moment, the story sharpens, and Thinnadu’s transformation finally grips the viewer. Though the scenes leading up to his awakening could have been more emotionally charged, the final act delivers with intensity and heart. Vishnu’s performance in these portions stands out — easily his career-best. The climax, especially, is emotionally powerful and becomes the film’s biggest strength.
Stephen Devassy’s background score elevates several moments, even if it feels loud at times. The songs, however, don’t leave a lasting impression. Sheldon Chau’s cinematography is a mixed bag — some visuals work, others fall flat. Despite the massive budget, the film doesn’t always reflect that scale, and the VFX leave room for improvement.
Vishnu, who also co-wrote the screenplay, stays true to the soul of the original story but fails to add cinematic magic. Director Mukesh Kumar Singh’s approach feels outdated. Barring a few moments in the climax, the film lacks a fresh, compelling cinematic language. His storytelling doesn’t fully tap into the emotional or mythological depth the story deserves.
Kannappa had all the ingredients — a legendary story, a passionate lead, and a high-stakes emotional arc. But weak execution, slow pacing, and lack of emotional buildup hold it back. The film redeems itself in the final hour, offering glimpses of what it could have been — powerful, soulful, and unforgettable.
