Kannappa

With Vishnu Manchu in the main role and important performances from Mohan Babu, Prabhas, and Mohanlal, the much anticipated religious drama Kannappa has finally debuted on huge screens to great acclaim. Continue reading to see if it lives up to the hype and if it’s a compelling spiritual experience.

Table of Contents

Starring : Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Sarat Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Saptagiri and Others
Director : Mukesh Kumar Singh
Producer : Dr. M. Mohan Babu
Music Director : Stephen Devassy
Cinematographer : Sheldon Chau
Editor : Anthony Gonsalvez

Story

The voyage of Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu), a ferocious tribal hunter who rejects all ideas of deity and lives by instinct, is told by Kannappa. He is far from religious, but when he finds a quiet Shiva lingam in the wilderness, everything changes. Defiance gradually gives way to unadulterated, unreserved affection. Thinnadu worships in his own unrestrained and sincere manner, unaware of rituals. An act of sacrifice so potent that it awakens the divine itself results from Lord Shiva’s (Akshay Kumar) final test of devotion. This is the tale of a non-believer becoming a saint through submission, love, and innocence.

Trailer

Overview

Directed by	Mukesh Kumar Singh
Screenplay by	Vishnu Manchu
Story by	Vishnu Manchu
Produced by	Mohan Babu
Starring	Vishnu Manchu Mohanlal Akshay Kumar Prabhas Kajal Aggarwal Preity Mukhundhan Mohan Babu R. Sarathkumar Madhoo
Cinematography	Sheldon Chau
Edited by	Anthony
Music by	Stephen Devassy
Production companies	AVA Entertainment 24 Frames Factory
Release date	27 June 2025
Running time	182 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Review

The movie is entirely deserving of praise for its earnest effort to tell Kannappa’s narrative to the current generation. Throughout, Vishnu Manchu’s commitment is clear, both as the film’s main inspiration and as a performer.

Vishnu does a good job performing. He does a good job with his transformation arc, and his emotional commitment to the role is demonstrated by one particularly powerful monologue that he delivers in a single take.

The game-changer is Prabhas in the role of Rudra. His appearance in the second half elevates the movie by deftly fusing knowledge and humor. In addition to being entertaining, his sequences with Vishnu and Mohan Babu deepen the spiritual trip.

Since the story is already familiar to many, the film needed a more emotionally gripping narrative. Unfortunately, the first half moves slowly, and the core plot doesn’t gain momentum until after the interval.

Key emotional threads, especially Thinnadu’s relationship with his father and wife, are underexplored. These could have added much-needed emotional weight and helped the audience connect more deeply.

Although Thinnadu’s devotion is shown well, the innocence and purity of his bond with Shiva could have been conveyed through more moving and emotionally charged sequences.

Conclusion

Overall, Kannappa is an honest and sincere attempt to recreate a stirring devotional story. Prabhas adds a powerful presence and a lot of energy to the second half, while Vishnu Manchu gives one of his most genuine performances. The movie finds its rhythm later and culminates in an emotionally fulfilling finale, despite a sluggish beginning and a number of undeveloped characters. It might have been higher with finer execution and more emotional depth. Nevertheless, Kannappa is still a respectable religious play that is appropriate for a family viewing.