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Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kannappa Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos
Kannappa Story: Kannappa is a devotional epic inspired by sacred lore. It traces the spiritual journey of Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu), an atheist tribal hunter known for his raw instincts and survival skills, who undergoes a profound inner transformation. His path eventually leads him to become one of Lord Shiva's most devoted followers. As the story unfolds, Thinnadu's encounters with divine elements and his evolving sense of purpose take centre stage. His relationship with Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), who acts as a feisty yet grounded counterbalance, adds emotional texture to his arc. Kannappa Review: Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa is a sincere attempt at retelling revered lore with visual grandeur. While the film opens on a slow and stretched note, it gradually finds its rhythm and builds to a soul-stirring finale. Vishnu Manchu brings sincerity and steadiness to the lead role. Prabhas makes a dynamic appearance as Rudra, energising the screen with his commanding and entertaining presence. Akshay Kumar makes a confident Telugu debut as Lord Shiva, fitting naturally into the film's spiritual atmosphere. Kajal Aggarwal adds elegance as Parvati, while Mohanlal's composed portrayal of Kirata brings a quiet strength to the narrative. Mohan Babu is firm and dependable as Mahadeva Shasthri, and R. Sarathkumar leaves an impression as Nathanathudu. The supporting cast, including Brahmanandam, Madhoo, Siva Balaji, Mukesh Rishi, Devaraj, Brahmaji, and others, contribute meaningfully, helping flesh out the world around Thinnadu. While the film hits the dramatic notes effectively, some of the emotional layers, particularly around Thinnadu's inner conflict and relationships, could have been explored with more depth. The narrative has heart, but a deeper dive into the character's internal struggles would have added more weight to the transformation. That said, Kannappa scores high on visual and musical impact. Sheldon Chau's cinematography captures the beauty of forested landscapes and celestial moments with finesse, giving the film a rich visual texture. Some of the VFX elements fall short of the film's ambition, but the overall sincerity of the production shines through. Stephen Devassy's background score is another strong point, heightening the emotional beats, especially during the intense and moving final act. Watch it if you enjoy sacred stories with strong visual storytelling and emotional payoff. Kannappa ends on a powerful note that resonates with devotees and admirers of culturally rooted cinema.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
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.
Pink Villa
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kannappa Review: Vishnu Manchu and Preity Mukhundhan's slow-paced film boasts star power but lacks proper conflict and technical finesse
Plot Set in second century CE, in the village of Uduppura, close to a forest near Sri Kalahasti, lives Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu). Thinnadu is a fearless tribe hunter, who also happens to be an atheist. His father, on the other hand, is a Shiva devotee. One fine day while hunting, a wild boar leads him to a sacred hill with a Shivaling. After hunting down the boar, Thinnadu feels inexplicable pain. To get the pain off his chest, he offers water and meat to the deity. This pleases Lord Shiva (Akshay Kumar) but angers Mahadeva Shastri (Mohan Babu), a Brahmin who strongly opposes meat offerings. This triggers a clash between Thinnadu's raw devotion and the rigid rituals of Shiva devotees. Thinnadu meets Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), a princess seeking the Vayulingam, and they develop a close bond. Rudra (Prabhas), a wise mentor, subtly guides him in the right direction of devotion. A meeting with Avadhoota (Mohanlal), deepens Thinnadu's devotion, further. As tensions with Shastri and the tribals peak, Thinnadu's sacrifices transform him into Kannappa, a legendary devotee. Watch Kannappa to follow Thinnadu's journey from being an atheist to a believer. What Works for Kannappa Kannappa finds its strength in the last 40 minutes. The movie is partly able to deliver a devotional story of Thinnadu from being an atheist to Shiva's devotee. The climax, with Thinnadu's selfless act, is well intentioned and it should resonate with Shiva devotees. The divine moments, framed by Shiva and Parvati's (Kajal Aggarwal) conversations, feel authentic. It is enhanced further by soulful background music and devotional songs. Prabhas brings the star power. Mohanlal's cameo as Avadhoota and Akshay Kumar's brief role as Shiva add gravitas to the spiritual scenes. What Doesn't Work for Kannappa First things first, the movie is too long and should have been atleast 40 minutes shorter if not more. The first half drags with a sluggish pace and unnecessary subplots and it is towards the ending of the second half that the pace gets better. The conflict between Thinnadu and Mahadeva Shastri feels repetitive and lacks depth. The romantic track between Thinnadu and Nemali is sweet but underdeveloped. It lacks emotional impact. The visual effects, especially in action sequences, often appear unpolished and artificial. Action scenes feel chaotic, with them lacking sharp choreography. This in turn, dilutes the impact of even the important scenes. Watch the Kannappa Trailer Performances in Kannappa Vishnu Manchu's performance as Thinnadu is adequate but lacks depth in early scenes. He luckily manages to pull it together, to an extent, in the emotional climax. Mohan Babu is commanding as Shastri, but his role feels one-note. Prabhas, as Rudra, brings calm wisdom but is severely underused. Preity Mukhundhan is earnest as Nemali, but her character lacks substance. Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar shine in their brief roles. However, their short presence on the screen, won't give the fans a bang for their buck. Final Verdict of Kannappa Kannappa has heart but that's not enough. The devotional tale has a stirring climax but is hampered by a slow first half, weak visual effects, and uneven storytelling. It shall appeal to Shiva devotees but the lacklustre pacing and the shallow subplots will not let the content fly beyond its limited target audience.
Pink Villa
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kannappa Ending Explained: What made Vishnu Manchu's Thinnadu become an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva in the climax?
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu in the lead role, hit the big screens on June 27, 2025. The fantasy movie is rooted in Hindu mythology and narrates the legend of Kannappa, a saint. If you're looking for a quick recap and to check out its ending, here are the details. Kannappa's story explained Kannappa features the story of Thinnadu, a young hunter from a tribal group and the son of a chieftain. Owing to the tribe's customs, the hunter abandons his belief in god, becoming an atheist. Coming to the celestial realm of Kailasa, Lord Shiva (played by Akshay Kumar) and Goddess Parvati (Kajal Aggarwal) are witnessing the events. As they closely observe Thinnadu's life unfolding, Shiva foresees man's destiny and the journey he is set to witness. As Thinnadu grows up, he becomes a good-hearted man and falls in love with Nemali (Preity Mukundan), a princess of the neighboring tribe. With the princess being betrothed to another, the Thinnadu is exiled from his community for loving her. On another end, a Vayu Lingam (an idol of Shiva's wind embodiment) finds its home near the region with dark forces in search of it to desecrate it. What unfolds in Thinnadu's life next? Kannappa continues the story with Thinnadu leading a life in exile. During his days away from his village and resolute in love for Nemali, the hunter unexpectedly finds the Shiva Lingam. Unbeknownst to its true power, Thinnadu places the idol and worships it in his manner. Owing to the man's simple-mindedness and naivety, he offers god– meat, which is considered to be an unconventional practice. However, Lord Shiva is pleased with the gesture and understands the honesty behind Thinnadu's actions. Spoiler Alert As a means to test Thinnadu's devotion, Lord Shiva gives him the ultimate tests in life. Over time, Thinnadu meets Rudra (Prabhas), a Rigvedic deity, and Kirata (Mohanlal), a tribal warrior. Both of them seemingly personify as a mentor in Thinnadu's life, with the final test coming up. Making an ultimate act of devotion, the hunter offers one of his eyes to Lord Shiva, even making the god stand astounded. With the man offering his second eye as well and deciding to become blind, Shiva grants him an appearance, pleased with his devotion. The god returns the man his vision, later becoming a saint known as Kannappa.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kannappa movie review: Vishnu Manchu's ambition cannot fully save this tediously long saga
Kannappa Movie Review & Rating: If you walk into a screening of Kannappa a few minutes late, there's a good chance you'll think that the film is actually a cosplay staged by Indians living somewhere abroad. Garish costumes, equally weird body art and piercings, loud shamans performing witchcraft and sacrifices, and a configuration that includes five different clans from centuries ago sharing one vast piece of land – all of this and so much more resembles a kind of pageantry that one spots in amateurish skits. Yet, director Mukesh Kumar Singh urges us to take all of it seriously as he plods through a story that is still quite far from finding its groove. Kannappa tells the tale of the eponymous icon from Hindu mythology, revered for his unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva. But before attaining that status, he lived the life of an atheist hunter named Thinnadu (played by Vishnu Manchu) who dismissed and blasphemed against each of his tribe's religious practices. The warrior in him stood stubborn against idol worshipping of any kind until a divine intervention struck him, imploring him to find God in the self-manifested vayulingam present deep inside the forests nearby. The story of Kannappa has been told on screen several times, and to great results. HLN Simha's Bedara Kannappa (1954) featured Dr. Rajkumar in a performance marked by earnestness and deep commitment while Bapu's Telugu iteration nearly two decades later, starring Krishnam Raju, achieved resounding success through its rooted yet more cinematic portrayal. Each interpretation has had a different thematic focus and storytelling priority, and Mukesh Singh's Kannappa (2025) fittingly aspires to go a few notches above its predecessors. Where the trouble lies is that his attempt never really feels tethered to the milieu that the story emerges from, and it ends up mistaking visual spectacle for creative ambition. The most glaring of missteps occurs in how the tribal community, at large, is represented. Thinnadu is said to belong to the Chenchu tribe that is known for its many unique cultural characteristics (now struggling against steep modernisation) but Kannappa cruelly exoticises them to an extent that it feels campy and caricatured. Characters, especially the women, are seen in costumes heavily sensualised in the name of them being 'tribal'. The bad guy is introduced atop a huge mound of corpses as his eerie occult world breathes savagery around him. The mountains, the meadows, the rivers and practically every element of the film's physical landscape scream foreign location; Kannappa is supposed to have been extensively shot in New Zealand and the makers go the extra mile to showcase their reach and budget. The combined result of all this is that the aesthetics don't allow us to feel the essence of the story until quite late into the proceedings. This also means that Vishnu Manchu, despite his visible devotion to the self-designed dream role, is left restlessly bouncing around as the film goes about finding some kind of a rhythm. The first half is predominantly weighed down by the triteness described above but there occurs a juncture in the narrative when things do notably come together. At its heart, Kannappa is about the trials of faith and how a non-believer sheds his arrogance to embrace personal transformation – so, when the screenplay (also credited to Vishnu) does come to its own for a brief while, it throws up a few pleasant surprises that salvage an otherwise turgid retelling of mythology. What works in its favour is a bunch of cameos and special appearances (no spoiler that superstars Mohanlal, Prabhas and Akshay Kumar are on offer here) that are staged and timed well, leading to sequences that contextually anchor the film and are also memorable in their own ways. One of these impressive portions even manages to throw up poignant questions regarding caste and the right to access divinity first-hand, as Thinnadu's innocent views combat the purity-pollution dogma of a Brahmin priest. Also Read | Kannappa Movie Release LIVE UPDATES Vishnu Manchu puts his best foot forward but he is still found wanting as a performer during the climactic emotional scenes. Preity Mukhundhan as Nemali gets something to play with, but her role also feels exploitative given its objectified framing. Senior actors, and there's a whole gamut of them here, R. Sarathkumar, Mukesh Rishi, Madhoo and others aren't really challenged, and they deliver exactly what's asked of them. Ultimately, Kannappa remains incoherent for most parts, and the disjointed storytelling leaves a lasting dent in it. If the unimaginative world-building, compounded by some high-level hammy acting, becomes its chief shortcoming then the lack of narrative urgency damages things further. In fact, it feels apparent that the makers are hesitant to commit to a full-fledged mythology experience for today's audience, and that second-guessing shows in how the story's most significant stretch arrives painfully late into the 182-minute runtime. It shines fleetingly, particularly when it becomes aware of its emotional core, and the finale does rise to a fitting crescendo. But those highs are scattered, and the misfires far outnumber the successes. Kannappa movie cast: Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Mohan Babu, R Sarathkumar, Brahmanandam, Brahmaji Kannappa movie director: Mukesh Kumar Singh Kannappa movie rating: 2.5 stars
