Early reviews for Vishnu Manchu's pan-Indian mythological film, Kannappa, have begun to surface, generating considerable buzz ahead of its release on June 27, 2025. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film features an ensemble cast, including cameos from Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal, and tells the story of Kannappa, a tribal warrior and devotee of Lord Shiva.
Trade analysts and early viewers are largely positive, praising the film's spiritual narrative and emotional depth, particularly highlighting the climax as a standout. Sumit Kadel, a trade analyst, gave the film a rating of 3.5 out of 5, noting that he was deeply moved by the final 30 minutes. He compared the experience to watching Kantara, emphasizing the climax's spine-chilling and emotionally overpowering impact. Kadel also lauded Vishnu Manchu's performance, suggesting that the last 15 minutes of the film could be career-defining for the actor.
Another reviewer, Rohit Jaiswal, echoed similar sentiments, singling out the last 40 minutes as "spectacular" and recommending the film for devotees of Lord Shiva. Producer Kona Venkat also shared his positive impressions, noting the numerous "wow" moments in the second half and the captivating nature of the final half-hour. He also mentioned that Prabhas’ presence in the movie made a huge impact.
Kannappa is based on the legend of Kannappa, a hunter who transforms into an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Born in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Kannappa, originally named Thinna, was a tribal hunter known for his unconventional devotion. According to the mythology, he stumbled upon a Shiva Lingam (the Vayu Linga) during a hunting expedition and began offering his devotion with unwavering sincerity, even offering meat from his hunts. His faith was put to the test when he noticed the Shiva Lingam bleeding from one eye. Without hesitation, Kannappa plucked out his own eye and placed it on the Lingam to stop the bleeding. When the other eye began to bleed, he prepared to sacrifice his remaining eye, marking the spot with his foot. Moved by his selfless devotion, Lord Shiva appeared and restored Kannappa's sight, granting him liberation.
The film depicts Kannappa as an atheist hunter who eventually transforms into the ultimate devotee of Lord Shiva. Vishnu Manchu plays the titular role, with Akshay Kumar portraying Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal as Goddess Parvati, Prabhas as Rudra, and Mohanlal as Kirata. The cast also includes Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Madhoo, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmanandam, and others in supporting roles.
While most reviews are positive, some have pointed out potential weaknesses, including a slow pace and inconsistent VFX quality. However, the performances, particularly Vishnu Manchu's, and the emotional core of the story seem to be resonating with early viewers.
Kannappa has a runtime of approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes and will be released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. The film was shot extensively in New Zealand and Hyderabad. The film's release was delayed from its original date of April 25, 2025, to allow for further enhancements to its visual effects and post-production work.
The film is produced by Mohan Babu under the banners of AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory. The music is composed by Stephen Devassy and Mani Sharma, with cinematography by Sheldon Chau.
