Kannappa, which was announced a long time ago, had a casting lineup that initially seemed unbelievable. There have been many instances where a movie becomes a hit solely because of one actor. However, for the first time, I’m seeing a film being sold under the name of someone who isn’t even the lead actor.
Cast
- Prabhas
- Vishnu Manchu
- Preity Mukhundhan
- Akshay Kumar
- Nayanthara
- Josita Anola
- Mohan Babu
- Kajal Aggarwal
- Mohanlal
- Brahmanandam
- Shiva Rajkumar
Photos
Release Date
25 April 2025
Budget
₹150 Crores
Genre
- Drama
- Action
- Fantasy
- Adventure
Overview
Bringing together some of the biggest names from different industries—Malayalam cinema’s legend Mohanlal, Bollywood’s action star Akshay Kumar, and finally, the box office giant superstar Prabhas. If a film with a ₹150-200 crore budget is backed by such big names, there must be something special in its content.
The good news is that the film is now complete and is set for release in April 2025. A small teaser was recently released as a preview. To be honest, the results turned out better than expected. Many people were trolling the Kannappa movie after the first teaser, but this new one has silenced a lot of the critics. I don’t think Kannappa can be ignored so easily anymore. Whether the movie succeeds or fails, it has certainly caught the audience’s attention.
The 80-second teaser has been well-utilized—it gives a glimpse into the film’s subject while keeping the core story under wraps for the theatrical experience. Kannappa is based on a real story directly connected to Lord Shiva, which is why the teaser includes many spiritual and religious scenes.
The best part of Kannappa movie is that the main storyline isn’t widely known, making it a fresh experience for audiences. This element of surprise makes the teaser feel different. However, the teaser leans more towards mass action rather than focusing heavily on devotion and spirituality, making it feel somewhat similar to War.
The visuals aren’t the absolute best, but at least they’re far better than Adipurush movie. The archery scene in the teaser, for example, looks quite impressive. The lead actor faced a lot of criticism after the first teaser, with memes mocking him. However, this new teaser redeems him to some extent. That being said, Kannappa still feels more like a big-budget TV serial rather than a grand cinematic experience, mainly due to overacting by some cast members.
That being said, if the film’s story is as strong as it promises to be—and if it’s presented well—people might overlook the weaker aspects of the performances. One of the teaser’s best highlights is its cameos. Seeing Akshay Kumar immediately brings back OMG 2 vibes, and Bollywood should really use him more in such roles.
The portrayal of Shiva and Parvati in the teaser is well-executed, avoiding anything that might lead to controversy. In fact, both actors playing these roles look convincing.
Mohanlal’s look is absolutely fantastic, but I was slightly disappointed that he didn’t get much screen time in the teaser. Perhaps they’re saving that for the full movie.
And then comes the most hyped moment of the teaser—the scene that everyone is talking about.
You must have heard of Prabhas. The moment he appears at the very end of the teaser, everything else fades into the background. His presence in a single frame makes the film feel special. His introduction is handled in a completely unique way—80 seconds of the teaser are one thing, but his 8 seconds are something else entirely. Even the background music shifts when he appears.
As of now, the biggest mystery surrounding Kannappa is Prabhas’ role. The teaser presents him so powerfully that it instantly builds excitement for the full movie. No matter what discussions arise around the teaser, they will mostly be centered on this one scene.
The filmmakers need to be extremely careful about how they use Prabhas in the film. If his scenes are too few or not impactful, it could backfire. Right now, he has completely overshadowed the rest of the teaser, and many people will watch the movie just for him. If his screen time is limited or underwhelming, it could lead to disappointment.
One thing I really liked about Kannappa’s makers is that they are not just calling it a Pan-India film for the sake of marketing; they have genuinely taken the Hindi belt and North Indian audience seriously. The teaser was released on the biggest international platform at the same time, without making any North v/s South distinctions.
Now, the big question: If the content clicks with the audience, the box office will shine.
So, what do you think? Will you watch Kannappa movie for Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, or its unique subject? Or will you skip it because of the somewhat weak filmmaking aspects? Write your opinion on the comment.