Kannappa review: Vishnu Manchu's film has great cameos, emotional second half but a slow start

Kannappa Story

The film is set in the Sri Kalahasti region of Tirupati. Tinnaadu (Vishnu Manchu) is an atheist who strongly condemns the stone worship. He falls in love with Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), a staunch believer in Shiva. His life takes a turn when his family and followers ask him to leave the village for his harsh words about Shiva. The rest of the story follows how Tinnaadu faces unforeseen circumstances and eventually walks the path laid out by Shiva, and becomes Kannappa in the end.

Kannappa Review

Kannappa's story is penned by Vishnu Manchu, and it has been his dream project to make a film on this subject ever since he became a hero. Vishnu ropes in Hindi director Mukesh Kumar Singh, who made the series Mahabharat, and gives him a powerful story to narrate. The young director takes on the massive responsibility and narrates the film on a decent note. But it takes time for him to set the pace of the film, and by the time Kannappa reaches the pre-interval, things feel slow and dull.

But the moment the second half starts, it becomes an emotional journey of Kannappa, with good drama and noteworthy cameos by Prabhas and Akshay Kumar. The makers have packed all the surprises into the second half, and there is hardly a dull moment during this time. But it is the climax that makes up for all the deviations, and Vishnu Manchu's emotional performance ends the film on a good note.

The makers have spent decent money on the production, and it shows on screen. Barring the dull VFX, the rest of the camerawork and visuals are good. But one cannot ignore the first half, as too many commercial aspects drag the film for no reason. There was absolutely no need for the makers to include two romantic songs for the lead pair, and this makes things quite boring.

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.

Coming to the performances, Mohanlal appears in a brief scene, but his role does not add much to the film. Akshay Kumar plays the role of Lord Shiva, and he is very good. The Khiladi actor not only mouths Telugu lines but also looks serene as the mighty Shiva. Kajal Aggarwal plays his wife and is also neat in her role, bringing a lot of depth to the proceedings. Sarath Kumar is okay in his role, and so are Kaushal, Shiva Balaji, and Brahmanandam.

The female lead, Preity Mukhundhan, gets a dream role and has a strong screen presence. She has been given much importance in the film and acts quite well. Prabhas is seen in a key role and is very good. He plays a new avatar of Lord Shiva and brings much-needed respite to the proceedings with his screen presence. Vishnu Manchu's kids are seen in cameo roles, and they do well.

But it is Vishnu Manchu who walks away with all the glory. He faced a lot of trolls after the teaser was revealed, but he has silenced his critics in a solid manner. Be it the action episodes or the divine touch that he brings, Vishnu Manchu gave his life and soul to the film. One can say it is one of his best performances to date in his career, and he shines both as an actor and writer.

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.

Also Read: Viraatapalem - PC Meena Reporting Review: A predictable crime drama that falls apart