Latest news with #BhaktaKannappa
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Frustrated Prabhas fan wants to sue Vishnu Manchu after watching Kannappa: ‘Where is Shiva, why are you showing heroism'
Mukesh Kumar Singh's Vishnu Manchu-starrer Kannappa was released in theatres on Friday to mixed reviews. The film received criticism for its first half, while most people on X (formerly Twitter) seem to have liked the second half. However, a frustrated Prabhas fan who spoke to IndiaGlitz wants to sue Vishnu after watching the film. (Also Read: Kannappa Twitter reviews: Vishnu Manchu's film has 'worst VFX since Adipurush' but movie 'peaks' with Prabhas' entry) Prabhas plays Rudra in Vishnu Manchu's devotional film Kannappa. In a video uploaded by the website, the Prabhas fan can be seen fuming after watching Kannappa. He said, 'I will file a case against him (Vishnu) for giving false information. What did he say in the press? Where is Shiva in the first half? I am a Prabhas fan, and I came here after watching the Bhakta Kannappa movie.' His biggest gripe, however, seemed to be that Kannappa wasn't like the 1976 film Bhakta Kannappa, which starred Prabhas' uncle Krishnam Raju. He said, 'His family gave you the rights to make this film. If it's your dream project, you can't change the film however you want. He gave false information in the trailer and in the press. When you promoted the movie as Bhakta Kannappa, why are you showing your heroism? Show the devotion instead. We came for Prabhas and watched him for 20 minutes in the second half; that's enough.' Even as the fan raged, another person pointed out in the video that they weren't even a fan of Vishnu, but that the film was good. One person commented under the video, 'Babu disclaimer chudakunda cinema ni elaa tappu battaali ane pani lo unnattunnaadu!! @themohanbabu antha base voice lo cheppaaru ga, Bhakta Kannappa story ni research chesi dani aadharam tho rasukunna kalpitha kadha ani. (You are just looking for fault without paying attention to the disclaimer. Mohan Babu says at the beginning of the film that they researched the story of Bhakta Kannappa and made this fictional film)' About Kannappa Kannappa is a devotional film based on the legend of Bhakta Kannappa, a devotee of Lord Shiva. It stars Vishnu, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal, Sarathkumar, Mohan Babu, Preity Mukhundhan and others. The film has been in the making for a decade. Prabhas plays Rudhra in the film, Akshay plays Shiva, and Vishnu plays Kannappa.
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kannappa movie review: Barring a few moments, this grand retelling of a devotional tale lacks soul
At one point, well into the second hour of the Telugu film Kannappa, Prabhas appears on screen as the deity Rudra. His extended cameo includes lines that cheekily nod to his larger-than-life image — one even references the endless speculation around his bachelorhood. These 'meta' touches serve as deliberate fan service, injecting energy into an otherwise uneven narrative. It is a shame, because Kannappa, led by Vishnu Manchu, sets out with the earnest ambition of reintroducing the devotional legend to a contemporary audience. Rooted in folklore, the story follows Thinna, an atheist hunter believed to be a reincarnation of Arjuna, who transforms into a devout follower of Lord Shiva. In a final act of faith, he offers his own eyes to the deity, earning the name Kannappa. Kannappa (Telugu) Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Preethi Mukhundhan, Sarath Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggarwal Run time: 183 minutes Story line: How the atheist hunter Thinna, said to be a reincarnation of Arjuna, becomes a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. The story of Kannappa has previously graced the Telugu screen in Bapu's revered 1976 film Bhakta Kannappa, which starred Krishnam Raju — uncle to Prabhas, who makes a much-publicised cameo in this new retelling. The region's cinema is no stranger to devotional dramas; the past has offered audiences tales told with both grandeur and emotional integrity, drawing them deeply into the spiritual journeys of their protagonists. In contrast, the core of Kannappa (2025) is overwhelmed by its ambition to stage a pan-Indian spectacle. Big-ticket names from across industries — Akshay Kumar and Kajal Aggarwal as Shiva and Parvathi, Mohanlal and Prabhas in extended cameos — are employed, but their presence does little to enrich the narrative. The film follows Thinna (Vishnu Manchu), a tribal hunter who renounces faith after a childhood trauma. His disillusionment with blind rituals is a theme that recurs intermittently, posing thought-provoking questions about the performance of devotion. But just as these threads begin to tug at the viewer's curiosity, especially through sporadic divine reactions from Shiva and Parvathi, the film retreats, offering no deeper interrogation. Instead, it reverts to tracing Thinna's transformation from sceptic to Shiva's most ardent devotee. Much of Kannappa has been filmed in New Zealand, in an attempt to recreate a lush, second-century landscape. While visually impressive in parts, this setting often feels dislocated from the cultural and emotional terrain of the story. The tribal skirmishes, particularly the face-off with the Kalamukha clan — whose aesthetic borrows heavily from Baahubali's Kalakeya warriors — feel derivative and underwhelming in comparison. This brings us to the larger problem — in the post-Baahubali era, it is not enough to go big. S.S. Rajamouli's films endure not because of scale alone, but because they rooted spectacle in craft — tight screenplays, innovative action sequences, and emotional stakes that resonated. In Kannappa, action set pieces are clunky, and the visual effects often distract rather than dazzle. Beneath the film's bloated surface, however, are flickers of genuine narrative promise. The bond between Thinna and his father (Sarath Kumar), and his continued yearning for his late mother, provide glimpses of pathos. His relationship with Nemali (Preethi Mukundhan), a warrior princess and Shiva devotee, also had potential. Preethi possesses a striking presence, but her character is reduced to ornamental appeal after a brief flash of swordplay and a couple of high-glam songs. The film briefly explores the contrast between Mahadeva Shastri's (Mohan Babu) orthodox puja — complete with silks and flowers — and Thinna's more visceral form of worship, offering meat from his hunt. It is a crucial narrative pivot that could have added depth to the devotional theme, but it arrives too late and is too hurriedly resolved to have any real impact. With a sprawling ensemble that includes veterans like Madhoo, Brahmanandam, Sapthagiri, Brahmaji, Mukesh Rishi, and Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran, the film is overpopulated and underwritten. Of these, only Sarath Kumar and Mohan Babu leave a lasting impression. Vishnu Manchu finds his footing in the emotional climax, but by then, much of the momentum is already lost. Ultimately, Kannappa had a moving legend to build upon — a tale of unwavering faith and sacrifice. But what it needed was not more star power or visual gloss, but storytelling rooted in emotional clarity and cultural texture. In striving for grandeur, it forgets to tell the story that matters. Kannappa is currently running in theatres
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Kannappa Twitter reviews: Vishnu Manchu's film has ‘worst VFX since Adipurush' but movie ‘peaks' with Prabhas' entry
Kannappa Twitter reviews: Mukesh Kumar Singh's Vishnu Manchu-starrer Kannappa hit screens on Friday. The devotional film, which boasts a large star cast, including Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, and Mohanlal, received mixed reviews. While people on X (formerly Twitter) seem to have liked the film's second half, the VFX and the first half received criticism. Kannappa Twitter reviews: Mohanlal, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Vishnu Manchu, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal and Sarathkumar star in it. If the reviews on X are anything to go by, Kannappa has a second half that seems to have impressed many. One X user wrote, 'Just watched #Kannappa. My Rating: 3.5/5. For the goosebump BGM in 2nd half – pure magic! #VishnuManchu's performance shines, especially in emotional scenes. #Prabhas & #MohanBabu's powerful presence takes it to another level. Half star for stunning visuals in the climax. 1st half is below average, slow & dull. 2nd half is a Super Blockbuster! Note: Must Watch for the epic 2nd half & performances!' Another person thought Vishnu and Prabhas performed well, 'Manchu vishnu performance good and Mohan Babu garu and mohanlal garu playes decent roles. Prabhas scenes aythe vere. BGM and Devotion.' An X user said in similar vein, 'Prabhas dialogues ki theatre lo whistles vachchayi. Vishnu emotional ga perform chesadu especially 2nd half lo Mythology and visuals solid ga connect ayayi. (People whistled to Prabhas' dialogues. Vishnu portrayed emotions well and especially in the second half, the mythology and visuals are good)' A mixed bag elevated by Prabhas Not everyone, however, was as generous with their reviews because an X user wrote, 'Interval - Avg. Very good subject, Weak writing, Excellent score, peak scenes tests patience, 30 min trim gives a better first artificial setup but overall avg…Lal sir presence.' Another called it a mixed bag which had a few impactful moments but also had its drawbacks, '#KannappaMovie – A mixed bag with some highs and lows. Positives: Songs, Manchu Vishnu's effort, Prabhas' episode, and a few impactful moments. Negatives: Weak cinematography, average editing, artificial CGI, costumes. A decent one-time watch overall. Rating: ⅖.' Another agreed that Prabhas was one of the highlights, 'From prabhas entry to end, movie peaks. But first half really bad. Overall average #kannappa.' VFX comparisons to Adipurush One X user wrote that the VFX in Kannappa was as bad as Prabhas' Adipurush, '#Kannappa - The Worst VFX /CGI since Adipurush in India! Barring #AkshayKumar and #Prabhas there are nothing that is worth watching for and I am surprised that with Good amount of budget, they did this BLUNDER.' Another also called out the VFX and the film overall. 'Horrible sir.. vfx song lo scene lo fight lo asalu emotion undadu.. this is the story of Bhakta Kannappa but Bhakta undadu.. except Prabhas scenes movie motham worst.. asalu page page la dialogues with out emotion enduko artam kadu #Kannappa. (There's no emotion in the VFX or songs or fights. This is the story of Bhakta Kannappa but there's no Bhakt. Except Prabhas' scenes, it's the worst. The dialogues are pages long but you don't get the emotion)' Kannappa also stars Mohan Babu, R Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Brahmaji, Siva Balaji, Kaushal Manda, Rahul Madhav, Devaraj, Mukesh Rishi, Raghu Babu, Preity Mukhundhan and Madhoo. It is based on the story of Kannappa, a devotee of Lord Shiva.
