Vishnu Manchu’s mythological epic ‘Kannappa’ was released in cinemas on Friday, June 27 to good reviews and a promising start at the box office. According to trade analyst Sacnilk, the pan-India film earned over Rs 9 crore on its first day across all languages in India. This grand devotional saga features a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal, and Mohan Babu in key roles.Kannappa Movie ReviewThe Telugu version recorded the highest turnout on Day 1, with an impressive overall occupancy rate of 55.89%. The morning shows opened strong with 50.55%, and increased through the day to 50.34% in the afternoon, 52.81% in the evening, and a peak of 69.87% during the night shows.In Tamil Nadu, the film also managed to draw decent crowds, recording an overall occupancy of 16.45% on its opening day. The afternoon (20.60%) and night (22.68%) show. Meanwhile, the Hindi version saw moderate traction with an overall 14.56% occupancy. Though the morning shows opened slowly at 4.83%, the turnout improved as the day progressed, peaking at 24.99% during the night shows.In Karnataka, the Kannada version reported a 13.81% occupancy across the day, with the highest viewership coming during the night shows (17%). Kerala’s response was comparatively muted, with the Malayalam version seeing a 7.20% occupancy rate.Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, ‘Kannappa’ is a grand movie telling the story of the legendary folk tale of Kannappa. He is an atheist hunter who becomes a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Vishnu Manchu stars in the film with an impactful performance, alongside impressive cameos from Prabhas as Rudra, Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, and Mohanlal as Kirata. Kajal Aggarwal as Parvati Devi, Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar and Preity Mukhundhan also feature in the strong cast.Audience reactions have been mixed, but they are generally positive about the second half and the film’s devotional message. The climax is powerful and emotionally stirring, resonating well with devotees and fans of culturally rooted cinema. However, some viewers have expressed frustration with the film’s length, pacing, and VFX quality.Audiences on the internet have been calling the final 40 minutes of Kannappa “spectacular” and “a treat for Shiva bhakts.” They also commended Vishnu Manchu’s performance. His portrayal, especially in the last 15 minutes, is being hailed as his best work to date.
