The mythological Telugu film Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu, released on June 28, 2025, and has been creating ripples at the box office. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film dives deep into the spiritual saga of Kannappa, a devotee of Lord Shiva. With cameos from superstars like Akshay Kumar and Prabhas, the movie managed to generate buzz across India. Here’s a comprehensive look at the film’s performance, audience reception, and critical analysis, along with box office figures from day one and day two.
🎬 Story and Background
Kannappa is a mythological drama inspired by the legendary tale of Bhakta Kannappa, a tribal devotee of Lord Shiva who offered his own eyes to his deity. The film attempts to blend mythology with cinematic grandeur. Vishnu Manchu plays the titular role, while Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, and others support the narrative. High expectations were set due to the film’s spiritual content, rich visuals, and the hype surrounding special appearances by Akshay Kumar and Prabhas.
📈 Box Office Performance
🪙 Day 1 Collection
On its opening day, Kannappa collected a net ₹9 crore in India, according to early estimates. While the opening wasn’t considered a blockbuster, it was enough to beat Kajol’s film Maa, which also released on the same day. The buzz surrounding Prabhas and Akshay Kumar’s cameos significantly boosted the initial turnout.
🌍 Worldwide Gross
Globally, the film earned close to ₹13 crore on its opening day. The combination of domestic and overseas collections offered a decent start, especially for a devotional, niche-genre film.
📉 Day 2 Collection
On Saturday (Day 2), collections dropped slightly. Reports suggest that the film earned around ₹2.3–3.5 crore, taking the total two-day earnings to approximately ₹12.8 crore. Though the dip was noticeable, it’s still considered a decent figure for a film with mixed reviews.
⭐ Performances & Direction
Vishnu Manchu’s performance has been praised by a section of the audience, especially in emotionally intense scenes. Many viewers highlighted his portrayal as “deeply devotional” and “true to mythology.” Mohan Babu and Mohanlal, who played key supporting roles, were noted for their “strong screen presence.”
Akshay Kumar and Prabhas, despite appearing briefly, were show-stealers. Their cameos not only added star value but also drove footfall to theatres.
🎥 Technical Aspects
✅ Positives:
Background Score (BGM): Strong and fitting for a mythological film.
Second Half: Many viewers felt the second half picked up steam and delivered on emotion and intensity.
Mythological Accuracy: The film largely stayed faithful to traditional retellings, which resonated with religious viewers.
❌ Negatives:
Visual Effects (VFX): A major point of criticism. Several netizens called the effects “underwhelming” and “artificial,” especially in comparison to high-budget mythological films.
Cinematography & Editing: Labeled as “average” by critics.
Costume Design: Some viewers felt the attire looked artificial and lacked authenticity.
🗣️ Public and Social Media Reaction
The audience’s response on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) has been mixed. One user wrote:
“Manchu Vishnu’s performance is good. People whistled to Prabhas’ dialogues. Vishnu portrayed emotions well, especially in the second half.”
Another review mentioned:
“The first half is below average, but the second half is a solid comeback. Akshay and Prabhas lit up the screen.”
There were also comparisons with other mythological failures like Adipurush, with some calling Kannappa a step forward in the genre but not without flaws.
📊 Industry Reactions
Film analysts noted that Kannappa might struggle to hit the ₹20 crore weekend mark unless word of mouth improves. However, given the devotional genre and presence of major stars, there’s still hope for recovery during the Sunday shows and in regional circuits.
Moreover, Vishnu Manchu announced that Kannappa will run for at least 10 weeks in theatres before moving to any OTT platform. This decision emphasizes their confidence in theatrical viewership and spiritual connection with audiences.
📌 Final Verdict
Kannappa stands as a visually ambitious, spiritually driven film that has seen a mixed response. While its emotional depth and strong performances—particularly in the second half—have earned praise, the weak VFX and slow first half drew criticism.
Still, it manages to touch the hearts of many and is faring reasonably well at the box office due to celebrity cameos and mythological interest. Whether the film will sustain its run depends heavily on the audience’s response in the next few days.