Name: Kannappa
Genre: Film
Released: 2025-06-27
Rating: 2.5
Cast: Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Preity Mukhundhan

Synopsis

Kannappa

Thinnadu, a gnostic atheist tribal hunter, is exiled after a conflict among his tribe when he openly opposes in the superstitious ritual like human slaughtering occurring in the tribe, spread by a witch named Maremma, which other tribal members believed to be important for the existence of the tribe. Problems arise when Thinnadu brutally thrashes Bebbuli, the son of their tribe's chieftain Mundadu, after Thinnadu gets to know that he tried to molest his girlfriend Nemali, thus Thinnadu's father Nathanathudu kicks Thinnadu and Nemali out of the clan. Then the sacred a divine air-powered Vayulingam is threatened by a group of evil bandits lead by evil leader Kala Mukha, in which Nathanathudu was killed, Thinnadu embarks on a soul-stirring quest of faith and courage and finally, leads a war and kills Kala Mukha and his group of evil bandits. Guided by mystical encounters with divine manifestations of Lord Shiva, including Kirata and Rudra, he transcends his mortal limitations. Rudra kills Bebbuli with help of a giant python and spider, after he try to molest Nemali. In a transcendent climax of devotion, when Thinnadu was thrashed by Mahadeva Sastri, an arrogant high priest, who was hiding Vayulinga from the world as he believed that Vayulinga will became unhygienic when anyone other than him see or touch it. After a fight with Mahadeva Sastri and Bhadragana, Thinnadu selflessly offers his eyes to the Vayulingam, receiving divine forgiveness.

Release: 27 Jun 2025
Run time: 182 min
Language: Telugu

Cast & crew

Mohanlal Cast

Prabhas Cast

Akshay Kumar Cast

Kajal Aggarwal Cast PR Preity Mukhundhan Cast

Mohan Babu Cast, Producer

R. Sarathkumar Cast

Madhoo Shah Cast VI Vishnu Manchu Writer PA Paruchuri Gopala Krishna Writer AN Anthony Editor ST Stephen Devassy Composer

Reviews

Indian-media reviews, grouped by reception.

Critics' consensus

Mixed

Across 2 available source-linked Indian-media reviews for Kannappa, reception is mixed. The 2 scored reviews average 50/100.

IMDb is a reference rating and is not counted as an Indian-media review.

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Reception Order

All 2 reviews shown

Gulte Satya

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 2.5/5 2025-06-27

The effort to retell the story of Kannappa to this generation using the latest technology & huge star cast and to talk about the importance of Srikalahasthi through the film had to be appreciated for sure. But, honest intentions to tell a story need an equally honest and gripping execution. It is where Manchu Vishnu’s Kannappa screenplay lost track. The film starts on a good note with a song that explains SriKalahasti Mahatyam followed by a childhood episode of Thinna. But, what we get to see in the first half after the initial few minutes is a lengthy romantic track between Nemali(Preity Mukhundhan) & Thinna and unnecessary action sequences one after the other without establishing a proper emotional connection with the audience.

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The Indian Express Swaroop Kodur

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 2.5/5 2025-06-27

Ultimately, Kannappa remains incoherent for most parts, and the disjointed storytelling leaves a lasting dent in it. If the unimaginative world-building, compounded by some high-level hammy acting, becomes its chief shortcoming then the lack of narrative urgency damages things further. In fact, it feels apparent that the makers are hesitant to commit to a full-fledged mythology experience for today’s audience, and that second-guessing shows in how the story’s most significant stretch arrives painfully late into the 182-minute runtime. It shines fleetingly, particularly when it becomes aware of its emotional core, and the finale does rise to a fitting crescendo. But those highs are scattered, and the misfires far outnumber the successes.

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