New Delhi: Portraying mythology on screen is always a delicate dance between faith and flourish. Enter Kannappa, the latest Telugu epic from Mukesh Kumar Singh, with Vishnu Manchu doing his best as the lead, and his least as the producer. The movie aims to shoot for the stars, but honestly? It keeps tripping over its own feet, thanks to fickle writing and an overindulgent first half.
Kannappa is set against the sprawling myth of the Sri Kalahasti temple. The story follows Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu), a tribal youth cum prince of a hunter clan who is devoid of belief in god. An out-and-out atheist who gradually transforms into a devotee of Lord Shiva. One fine day, his accidental encounter with a Shiva Lingam in the wilderness shifts his trajectory. But is this mythological adaptation worth your watch? Read our full review to know!
Kannappa review
Despite a powerful arc, Kannappa feels oddly inert for much of its runtime. So many songs, so many random comedy bits, and barely any real tension. The first half is a slog. Scenes drag, emotional beats fail to land, and the narrative seems in search of a pulse. Even the picturesque New Zealand landscapes, captured with care by cinematographer Sheldon Chau, could not distract from the film’s sluggish pacing and oddly generic writing. The dialogues more often feel flat.
However, the second half salvages some dignity. Once Prabhas enters as Rudra, the film gathers momentum. The climax, though predictable (if you know the story), is provoking largely due to its thematic weight. It’s worth noting that Kannappa doesn’t lack ambition. When Thinnadu’s devotion to Lord Shiva is put to the ultimate test, it evokes a moving, if familiar, cinematic high. The climax is visually rich and emotionally potent, and manages to salvage some of the earlier missteps. It’s here that the myth finally breathes.
Kannappa review: Performances
Vishnu Manchu doubles up as producer and lead and gives Thinnadu’s role his all. His earnestness is apparent, particularly in the latter half, where his performance does find some footing. But the journey there is bumpy. His son, who plays the younger version of Thinnadu, is saddled with awkward dubbing. It eventually disrupts whatever emotional connection those flashbacks attempt to build.
Preity Mukhundhan’s role of Nemali is merely a low attempt to build romantic chemistry. And honestly, it never builds the emotional stakes necessary to justify the shifts in Thinnadu’s spiritual arc.
On the contrary, Prabhas brings a grounded gravitas to his limited screen time and offers a brief respite from the otherwise patchy storytelling. Mohanlal, too, leaves a dignified impression in his cameo as Kirata. Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva and Kajal Aggarwal as Parvati are more ornamental than divine.
WTF: Where’s the Flaw?
Ominous writing, poor VFX, and under-choreographed action sequences. Technically, the film sits in a curious middle ground. Stephen Devassy’s romantic tracks also feel tonally misplaced. The effort is only poured into production design, casting cameos, and mythological verismo. But all that doesn’t make a compelling film. The writing needed more introspection: a major takeaway for filmmakers delving into Indian mythology.
Kannappa final verdict
Kannappa loves its subject, no question. But loving something doesn’t automatically make it great cinema. With sharper writing and a clearer sense of direction, it could’ve been legendary. It’s an ambitious, well-intentioned myth that never quite catches fire.
Watch it for the climax.