Kannappa Story

The movie takes place in Tirupati's Sri Kalahasti area. Tinnaadu (Vishnu Manchu) is an atheist who vehemently opposes the veneration of stone. He becomes infatuated with Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), a firm follower of Shiva. His life changes course when his family and followers urge him to leave the village because of his harsh words against Shiva. The remainder of the narrative describes how Tinnaadu overcomes unanticipated events, ultimately follows the route established by Shiva, and eventually transforms into Kannappa.

Kannappa Review

Vishnu Manchu wrote Kannappa's story, and ever since he became a hero, he had always wanted to create a movie about it. Mukesh Kumar Singh, the Hindi filmmaker who created the Mahabharat television series, is brought in by Vishnu and given a compelling plot to tell. The movie is narrated by the young director in a respectable manner as he assumes a great deal of responsibility. However, it takes him a while to establish the tempo of the movie, and by the time Kannappa arrives at the pre-interval, the movie feels slow and boring.

However, the second half of the movie takes on an emotional tone, focusing on Kannappa and featuring memorable cameos by Prabhas and Akshay Kumar. All the surprises are in the second half, and there are very few boring bits during this period. But the climax makes up for all the deviations, and the movie ends on a high point thanks to Vishnu Manchu's passionate acting.

The filmmakers have invested a fair bit in the production, and it is apparent on the screen. The remaining photography and images are excellent, with the exception of the lackluster visual effects. However, the first half cannot be disregarded since the movie is needlessly slowed down by excessive business features. The movie's producers didn't need to include two romantic tracks for the main couple at all, which makes it rather dull.

The depth in writing is clearly missing in the first half, as it takes time for us to get the hang of the story. There are many noted actors in key roles, but one gets the feeling that they are not used to their fullest. Today's generation does not know, but Kannappa was made earlier in Telugu and had Prabhas's uncle, Krishnam Raju, in the lead role. That film was known for its depth in emotions, which is clearly missing in Kannappa. It is more of a spectacle film than a devotional project.

The father-son bond between Sarath Kumar and Vishnu looks weak, and there are not many scenes where Vishnu Manchu gets scope to change from an atheist to a Shiva devotee. If the makers had concentrated more on the drama in the first part and elevated this aspect, the proceedings would have been a lot better. But all this is taken care of in the second half.

Prabhas makes a dynamic entry, and his screen presence and role help the film in a big way. The audience, who feel agitated with too many commercial elements in the first half, is satisfied with a very emotional and realistic climax. The presence of Mohan Babu at the end of the film is pretty good.

In terms of the performances, Mohanlal makes a cameo appearance, but his character doesn't really contribute anything to the story. Lord Shiva is portrayed by Akshay Kumar, and he excels in the role. The Khiladi actor also appears tranquil as the powerful Shiva and speaks Telugu lines. His wife is portrayed by Kajal Aggarwal, who also performs well, adding a lot of substance to the events. Kausal, Siva Balaji, and Brahmanandam are all good in their roles, as is Sarath Kumar.

Preity Mukhundhan, the protagonist, has a dream role and a commanding presence on screen. In the movie, she plays her role with great competence and is given a prominent role. Prabhas plays a crucial role and is excellent. With his on-screen presence, he provides a much-needed break to the events by portraying a new version of Lord Shiva. The children of Vishnu Manchu make cameo appearances and excel.

However, Vishnu Manchu receives all the praise. Following the teaser's release, he received a lot of trolls, but he has successfully silenced his detractors. Vishnu Manchu put his whole heart and soul into the film, whether it was the action scenes or the spiritual spark he brought. It may be argued that it is one of his best performances to date, showcasing his talents as both a performer and author.

Stephen Devassy has composed the music, and his BGM is top-notch, elevating the film to another level. The production design is quite good, as the makers did not rely much on sets and chose real-life locations, which makes the film look authentic. The dialogues could have been better, and the editing is not up to the mark. Close to 15 minutes in the first half need trimming to make things look better.

Vishnu Manchu's dream was to make a film on Kannappa, and his dream has surely come true. But if you watch the film as a common audience member, it feels a bit lengthy and starts slowly. However, the presence of Prabhas and the emotional climax end the film on a thumping note.

Kannappa Verdict

On the whole, Kannappa is a decent fantasy drama that has been made with honesty. Though the film starts on a dull note, the presence of star heroes, Vishnu Manchu's performance, and a gripping second half make the film worth a watch on the big screen.

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