Kannappa movie review: Vishnu Manchu starrer impresses in bits and pieces; Prabhas stands out 

Kannappa review

The much-awaited film Kannappa based on the legendary devotee of Lord Shiva has finally hit the screens. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film has Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal and others in pivotal roles.

Plot

The movie revolves around Thinnadu(Manchu Vishnu), a tribal youngster who does not believe in God. His life takes a turn after falling in love with a village girl played by Preity Mukhundhan. Inspired by the history of Sri Kalahasti temple, the story shows Thinnadu’s journey from being an atheist to becoming a true devotee of Lord Shiva. His spiritual transformation forms the heart of the film.

Performances:

Manchu Vishnu takes on the dual responsibility of lead actor and producer. He tries his best and shows sincere efforts in his performance. Preity Mukhundhan fits well as the village girl. Prabhas appears in a calm and composed mentor role leaving a positive impact.

Mohanlal plays Kiraata in a special role while Mohan Babu portrays Mahadeva Sastry with his usual experience. Tamil actor Sarath Kumar impresses as Kannappa’s father.

Akshay Kumar make his debut in Telugu and he is seen as Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal as Parvathi also suit their parts. However Vishnu’s son who plays young Thinnadu struggles with poor dubbing which affects the emotional connect.

Technical Aspects:

The film’s visuals especially in the climax are decent with fair use of VFX. The production values are acceptable and the makers have beautifully captured the natural beauty of New Zealand.

The devotional songs about Lord Shiva stand out but the dialogues fall flat.
Analysis:

The film’s major drawback is its weak and slow-paced first half. First half feels more like filler content. The second half however picks up especially during the emotional climax and pre climax portions.

Prabhas and Mohanlal’s appearances are big assets for the movie. But inconsistent writing in a few scenes hold the film back.

Verdict:

Kannappa has its moments in the second half with a touching climax. While the first half and dialogues are weak, fans of devotional stories and the star cast might find it worth watching on the big screen.

Bottom Line:
Kannappa delivers an average devotional drama with a strong finish but suffers due to a dull first half.

Also Read: Kannappa director Mukesh Kumar Singh on working with Prabhas, Akshay Kumar and how Bollywood never noticed him, 'but Telugu cinema did' - EXCLUSIVE

Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Preity Mukhundhan, Madhoo, Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran, Brahmanandam

Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh

Rating: 2.5/5

(Kannappa is currently playing in theatres)