What Is Kannappa?

Kannappa is a mythological epic grand movie which was released on 27th June, 2025. Mukesh Kumar Singh directs the movie and Mohan Babu has produced it. Vishnu Manchu is playing the lead role in the movie. The movie is based on a tribal hunter who becomes a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. Targeting for a pan-India appeal, the film is produced in Telugu and dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Film Budget & Scale

• Total Budget: ₹200 crore, making it the most expensive film in Vishnu Manchu’s career.
• Scale: High production values with epic visuals, large sets, and a multi-lingual cast.

Star Cast & Cameos

• Vishnu Manchu — leads as Kannappa
• Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Preity Mukhundhan, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharathkumar, R. Sarathkumar, Brahmanandam, Madhoo, and others in supporting roles.

Special Cameos:

• Prabhas as Rudra (appears for ~30 minutes, had no fee).
• Akshay Kumar portrays Lord Shiva—his Telugu debut.

Release Date & Runtime

• Release Date: June 27, 2025, in theatres across India.
• Runtime: A long epic—over 3 hours—raising discussions about modern audience patience.
  
  

First Day Box Office

• India-wide collection: Approx. ₹9 crore net on opening day across all languages.
• Outperformed new releases like Maa and F1.
• Had 55–60% occupancy in Telugu regions; Hindi version expected to open modestly (~₹80 lakh).

Box Office Outlook

Analysts suggest Kannappa needs ₹150–200 crore in India to be classified a hit due to its high budget. Comments vary:

• Some think that it will fail to match blockbusters by movies such as HIT 3 (~₹19 crore).
• Mixed word-of-mouth could dampen momentum, although weekend growth should be strong.

Audience & Critical Reviews

Mixed Early Reception

• First half has been usually termed as being too slow-paced, with poor VFX and inconsistent storytelling.
• Second half and climax, including cameo scenes, are praised as emotionally impactful and well-executed.

Critics’ Ratings

• Pinkvilla, India Today, The Indian Express, Hindu, Cinema Express gave the film around 2–2.5/5, noting the slow start but appreciating the climax and devotional narrative.

Social Media Buzz

• Netizens termed the second half as "perfect", eulogizing Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, and Akshay Kumar's performances.
  
  

Highlights & Criticisms

Positive:

• Good climax, emotional connect, and actor performances, particularly by Prabhas and Vishnu.
• Big scale and spiritual richness in the second half.
  
  

Negative:

• Weak first half, slow pacing, and unbalanced VFX .
• Some found the runtime too long for modern audiences.

Viewer Takeaways

• Be patient: The film rewards viewers who endure the slower initial buildup.
• Climax & cameos: Aim to keep you engaged and emotional.
• Epic watch: Especially enjoyable for mythology lovers and fans of Prabhas and Akshay Kumar.

Final Verdict

Kannappa is a richly visual devotional epic. Its majesty and poignant climax raise it above its defects. At the box office, commercially, it relies on enduring interest after Day 1. For audiences—particularly fans of mythology—it presents intense moments worth the wait.

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