
Kannappa movie review: A messy epic where devotion arrives too late
First off, because people had modest to low expectations on this film, it's safe to say that there are many positives here, more than expected. Vishnu Manchu's much-publicised magnum opus positions itself as a spiritual retelling of a tribal warrior's transformation into Lord Shiva's most ardent devotee. Unfortunately, it spends more time in disjointed subplots that don't do anything to the plot. By the time Kannappa finally discovers the pulse of its own story, some two hours into its bloated runtime, the audience is already spiritually liberated from the act of caring.
Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh
Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal
Kannappa is based on the classic arc of the non-believer-turned believer. Our protagonist Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu) is an atheist in the second century who despises the rituals of his tribes and rebels against the norms. Which sounds promising on paper, except the film never explores what that really means. Instead, we are launched into a painfully superficial love story with Nemali (Preity Mukundhan), which mostly serves as an excuse for the awkward age-gap romance and heavy midriff shots. After an uninspired war, an ironic love story, and a brief encounter with the divine, Thinnadu evolves into the devout Kannappa.

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Kannappa' Box Office Collection Day 1: Vishnu Manchu's mythological epic beats 'Maa' and 'F1' to open with highest collection of Rs 9 Crore
Picture Credit: X Vishnu Manchu's mythological epic 'Kannappa' was released in cinemas on Friday, June 27 to good reviews and a promising start at the box office. According to trade analyst Sacnilk, the pan-India film earned over Rs 9 crore on its first day across all languages in India. This grand devotional saga features a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Akshay Kumar , Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal , and Mohan Babu in key roles. Kannappa Movie Review The Telugu version recorded the highest turnout on Day 1, with an impressive overall occupancy rate of 55.89%. The morning shows opened strong with 50.55%, and increased through the day to 50.34% in the afternoon, 52.81% in the evening, and a peak of 69.87% during the night shows. In Tamil Nadu, the film also managed to draw decent crowds, recording an overall occupancy of 16.45% on its opening day. The afternoon (20.60%) and night (22.68%) show. Meanwhile, the Hindi version saw moderate traction with an overall 14.56% occupancy. Though the morning shows opened slowly at 4.83%, the turnout improved as the day progressed, peaking at 24.99% during the night shows. In Karnataka, the Kannada version reported a 13.81% occupancy across the day, with the highest viewership coming during the night shows (17%). Kerala's response was comparatively muted, with the Malayalam version seeing a 7.20% occupancy rate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, 'Kannappa' is a grand movie telling the story of the legendary folk tale of Kannappa. He is an atheist hunter who becomes a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Vishnu Manchu stars in the film with an impactful performance, alongside impressive cameos from Prabhas as Rudra, Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, and Mohanlal as Kirata. Kajal Aggarwal as Parvati Devi, Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar and Preity Mukhundhan also feature in the strong cast. Audience reactions have been mixed, but they are generally positive about the second half and the film's devotional message. The climax is powerful and emotionally stirring, resonating well with devotees and fans of culturally rooted cinema. However, some viewers have expressed frustration with the film's length, pacing, and VFX quality. Audiences on the internet have been calling the final 40 minutes of Kannappa "spectacular" and "a treat for Shiva bhakts." They also commended Vishnu Manchu's performance. His portrayal, especially in the last 15 minutes, is being hailed as his best work to date.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Kannappa Box Office Collection Day 1: Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar's film sees good start, mints THIS amount
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Maa Box Office Collection Day 1: Kajol's horror film makes Rs 4.50 crore debut; faces stiff ccompetition from Vishnu Manchu's 'Kannappa' and Brad Pitt's 'F1'
Kajol 's long-awaited return to the big screen with the horror drama Maa has seen a respectable start at the Indian box office. The film which faced some stiff competition at the ticket windows, managed to earn an estimated Rs 4.50 crore nett collection on its opening day. Directed by Vishal Furia , the supernatural thriller has managed to make its mark despite facing intense competition from two high-profile releases — the Vishnu Manchu starrer Kannappa and Brad Pitt 's racing drama F1. Released on June 27, Maa marked Kajol's comeback after a three-year hiatus and generated steady buzz among fans of both horror and emotional dramas. With a UA 16+ rating and a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes, the film combines Indian mythology and psychological horror, following a mother-daughter road trip that spirals into a chilling confrontation with a cursed legend. The film saw a slow start to its collections, recording just around 8.23% occupancy for its morning shows and saw its numbers rise to 32.61% for its night shows. With a collection of Rs 4.50 crore, Maa placed third in Friday's box office battle, coming in behind F1, which earned an estimated Rs 5 crore nett and Kannappa, which emerged on top with a total Rs 9 crore collection. While the opening figures may not be front-loaded in comparison to big-budget tentpoles, trade experts consider the haul a decent start given the film's mid-range scale and genre-specific appeal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jolie-Pitt Family Shows Support For Shiloh's Change Drivepedia Undo Maa, entering a crowded box office window could have also played a role in diminishing its box office collections. Despite the competition, Kajol's emotional performance and the film has been praised. Added support from Ajay Devgn , including a limited-time 'Buy 2 Get 1 Free' ticket offer, has also helped drive ticket sales, particularly in urban centres. Maa still has room to grow over the weekend, especially if positive reviews continue to build.