Kannappa Review: Divine Climax, Derailed Drama

BOTTOM LINE
Divine Climax, Derailed Drama

RATING
2.25/5

CENSOR
U/A, 3h 3m

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What Is the Film About?

Kannappa is the story of Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu), a non-believer of God, and his journey of what transforms him to become the legendary devotee and follower of Lord Shiva. This is the story of Kannappa at a high level.

Performances

Even though Kannappa boasts a loaded cast, including several senior stars the film predominantly rests on Manchu Vishnu’s shoulders. He carries the film as Thinnadu and despite the presence of many familiar faces, it’s his journey that drives the narrative.

There are a couple of emotional moments in the film where he is required to cry and emote, and he shows visible improvement in these scenes, despite returning to the screen after a gap of a few years. However, the best of his performance is saved for the climax. It’s in the final act that the film leaves its strongest impact, and this is where Manchu Vishnu truly shines.

Thanks to the emotional closure, writing, thoughtful design, and his performance, the climax leaves a lasting impression. It also generates a sense of goodwill for Manchu Vishnu—as both an actor and a producer—for choosing to bring such a devotional tale to life in today’s fast-paced, social media-driven world.

Preity Mukhundhan plays the female lead and Thinnadu’s love interest in Kannappa. She comes across as a refreshing choice, thanks to her screen presence. Her styling and character design are thoughtfully done, blending seamlessly into the narrative without feeling like a forced addition. She manages to look glamorous while still fitting into the thematic setting of the film. Although there are moments where she resembles a typical commercial film heroine, it doesn’t take away from the story or disrupt the flow. She performs her role well and adds value to the overall experience.

Legendary senior actor Mohan Babu plays a special role in Kannappa, and his commanding screen presence is immediately felt. His trademark dialogue delivery remains intact even today. One might wish he had a longer role, but with the limited screen time he’s given, he delivers a solid performance and makes his presence count.

As for Prabhas, he appears on screen for around 20 minutes. What stands out is the way his role is written, designed, and presented—it clearly reflects a genuine intent to integrate him into the story rather than simply using his stardom. That’s perhaps the best part. His entry doesn’t derail or disrupt the plot in any way.

Styling-wise, Prabhas looks sharp and well-suited to the role. Unlike some of his recent films where his looks faced criticism, here there’s nothing to complain about. His appearance, presence, and the overall execution of his character blend well with the film’s tone and purpose. But, if someone is expecting to see him in a high-octane action role or something similar, they will be disappointed.

Mohanlal makes a true cameo appearance in Kannappa showing up during the interval block. After a lengthy first half, his entry comes as a welcome relief and raises intrigue and hope for the rest of the film. The face-off between Manchu Vishnu and Mohanlal is well-designed and adds weight to the moment. While Mohanlal doesn’t get much to do performance-wise, his presence at that point is a refreshing and refreshing addition to the narrative.

Tamil senior actor Sarathkumar gets a decent amount of screen time, and he suits the role well, feeling like a perfect casting choice.

Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva and Kajal Aggarwal as Goddess Parvati fit their roles perfectly. Though their screen time is limited, both serve the purpose effectively, and their casting feels spot-on for the parts they play.

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Analysis

Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh brings a legendary devotional tale to life on the big screen. The film begins with the story of Thinnadu, played by Manchu Vishnu exploring the reasons behind his disbelief in God and the traits that set him apart from the rest of his clan. His internal conflicts, along with a romantic track involving Nemali and the central element of the Vayu Lingam, form the core of the first half.

While the film displays genuine intent throughout, it struggles to deliver compelling drama around its central themes—be it the crucial element of the Vayu Lingam, the antagonist’s cruelty, or any major narrative twists—as everything ends up feeling flat.

The direction works in bits and pieces but fails to create a cohesive impact. Even though the introductions of Mohan Babu and the Vayu Lingam angle spark initial interest, the narrative does little to sustain that momentum.

The storytelling lacks the necessary tension, fear, or shock factor, primarily due to the director’s rather relaxed narrative style. As a result, despite the generous runtime, the film misses the emotional, dramatic, and action highs needed to elevate the experience.

The villain’s arc and Thinnadu’s character strengths also fail to translate powerfully on screen, lacking the cinematic punch required for a story of this scale.

Due to the free-flowing, modern diction and dialogues, the natural and authentic feel is missing in a story that aims to depict a devotional tale set in a historical backdrop.

However, the effort to present an epic tale is evident, and certain segments reflect that ambition. What truly stands out is the interval face-off between Kirata, played by Mohanlal, and Manchu Vishnu—an engaging moment that builds intrigue and raises expectations for the second half.

The second half of Kannappa primarily focuses on a lengthy war sequence, built upon the foundation laid in the first half but lacks real surprises or thrilling action highs. While the staging of the war segment is decent, the dark-toned cinematography doesn’t do much to elevate its impact.

What follows is a 20-minute stretch featuring Prabhas. This portion is supported by neat writing and fits well within the film’s devotional theme, but again, it lacks emotional peaks or standout moments. The scenes involving Prabhas with both Mohan Babu and Manchu Vishnu are more reliant on writing than spectacle—and they work reasonably well on that front.

However, the major issue until the pre-climax remains the film’s pacing. The narrative moves at an unhurried rhythm, lacking depth in drama or unexpected turns. This relaxed storytelling approach makes the lengthy runtime feel even more apparent.

That said, it’s the final act—particularly the climax—where the film truly finds its footing. The closing stretch is solid and impactful, both in terms of writing and execution. Manchu Vishnu delivers an impressive performance, and the film finally embraces a fully devotional tone that resonates. The presentation of the climax provides the emotional and thematic payoff the film needed.

Overall, Kannappa offers a passable first half and a second half that works in parts, with the final act delivering the strongest impact. Watch it with right expectations.

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Performances by Others Actors

Kannappa features a well-known supporting cast including familiar names like Brahmaji, Raghubabu, comedian Raghu, Saptagiri and several others. While all these actors do their parts sincerely and there’s no issue with their performances, their presence doesn’t elevate the impact of the narrative. In fact, the casting choices at times feel more functional than inspired.

Madhubala, in particular, feels somewhat miscast. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, her portrayal doesn’t quite blend with the tone of the film. Others like Kushal Manda, Mukesh Rishi and Brahmanandam deliver what’s expected from their roles, but again, the casting choices neither add depth nor take away from the core story. Ultimately, it’s not the performances that are at fault, but the casting decisions that influence how much weight these characters carry in the overall experience.

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Music and Other Departments?

The music for Kannappa is composed by Stephen Devassy and there’s no doubt he has put in sincere effort to support and elevate the film through his background score. While there are moments where the score feels slightly out of sync with the visuals, overall, his work adds value, and the intent to uplift the narrative is clearly felt.

Cinematography by Sheldon Chau is decent. Much of the film unfolds in natural landscapes and green pastures, which help set the tone and vibe. However, one does wish he had established a more unique visual mood through his lens, which could have added a refreshing flavor to the film.

Editing by Anthony Gonsalvez could have been sharper. A crisper cut—especially in the first half, and some portions of second half —might have made the pacing tighter and the overall experience more engaging.

The production values by Twenty Four Frames Factory and AVA Entertainment are adequate. While the VFX could have been better and more polished in a few key scenes, the film still looks fairly mounted overall.

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Highlights?

Overall intent is to tell the legendary story of Kannappa

Manchu Vishnu’s final act (climax) stands out

Drawbacks?

Flat narrative for the most part

Drama lacks emotional depth

Action blocks don’t provide highs

Not-so-impressive VFX

Lengthy runtime

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Did I Enjoy It?

Yes — especially the climax and certain parts, mainly for the intent behind the film.

Will You Recommend It?

Only if you value intent over execution.

Kannappa Movie Review by M9