Manchu Vishnu’s Kannappa is a highly ambitious film. He has penned the story himself. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film features Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Akshay Kumar in pivotal roles. It is being released simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi. So, to what extent has the film lived up to the hype? Has it managed to impress the audience? Let’s find out!
Story: How did Tinnaadu (Manchu Vishnu), a staunch atheist, transform into a devotee? What events led to his spiritual awakening? How did he become Kannappa, under the guidance and divine play of Lord Shiva(Akshay Kumar)? This forms the core of Kannappa’s story.
Performances: Manchu Vishnu impresses with his mature performance. It takes some time for the audience to accept him in this role, but once the character’s devotion begins to surface, Vishnu displays remarkable emotional depth. Especially in the last 15 minutes, his portrayal of a man fully surrendered to Lord Shiva is sure to connect with the audience.
Akshay Kumar brings calm divinity to the role of Lord Shiva — his serene eyes enhance the spiritual aura. Kajal Aggarwal, playing Parvati, is graceful and effective in her limited screen time. Mohanlal’s role is brief, but his screen presence adds solid value to the film.
Prabhas brings momentum to the narrative with his entry. He not only lends weight to the dialogue with his commanding voice but also elevates the film’s divine tone. Seen for about 20 minutes, Prabhas’s scenes with Manchu Mohan Babu, Manchu Vishnu, and Preity Mukundan work very well. His expressive eyes, subtle sarcasm, and confident body language make his presence a standout element in the film.
Preity Mukundan looks stunning and delivers a commendable performance. Sarath Kumar, Brahmaji, Raghubabu, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, and Saptagiri perform well within their respective scopes.
Technical Aspects: Technically, the film has several flaws. The production design, art direction, and CGI leave much to be desired. The art department struggles to create sets and costumes that align with the film’s timeline, with visible errors in several scenes. The CGI is particularly poor in certain segments.
That said, the emotional weight of the story helps mask some of these technical shortcomings. Especially after Prabhas’s entry, the film becomes more engaging, and Manchu Vishnu’s emotional climax performance compensates for many of the flaws. Stephen Devassy’s tunes are moderate, but his background score lacks the impact needed to elevate key moments, particularly in the war episodes, where the emotion falls flat due to weak BGM.
Cinematography is decent, with the natural beauty of New Zealand captured effectively. The visual depiction of the Vayu Lingam episodes is also handled well. Editing is crisp overall, but the war episodes suffer from a sense of lag due to ineffective visual effects. Better attention to color grading would have enhanced the film’s visual appeal.
Analysis: The story of Kannappa is steeped in history. It’s a profound tale that illustrates the dharma that God always stands by true devotees who expect nothing in return. Manchu Vishnu’s attempt to bring this timeless message to today’s generation through Kannappa is commendable.
Director Mukesh Kumar Singh handles emotional scenes well but struggles with action and war sequences. For instance, Vishnu’s slow-motion fighting in the village sequence feels too much like a TV serial. However, Mukesh redeems himself with well-executed devotional scenes, particularly the intercut showing Vishnu embracing the Vayu Lingam, representing his spiritual connection with Shiva. The climax is handled neatly.
However, the first half suffers from disjointed scenes and poor graphics, which may disengage some viewers. Thankfully, the second half provides a strong recovery, with the last 40 minutes being especially impactful. The film manages to deliver its message without offending any caste, community, or culture.
Verdict: Overall, Kannappa is a sincere, well-intentioned effort that introduces devotion and spiritual values to the younger generation. Vishnu Manchu gives his best and the star cast are neatly packaged, making this film a passable watch.
Bottom Line: Vishnu Manchu’s best to date
Kannappa Rating: 2.5/5
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