Movie: Kannappa
Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Sarat Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Arpit Ranka, Brahmanandam, Saptagiri, Preity Mukhundhan and others
Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh
Rating: 2.5 Moons
Storyline
Kannappa is the transformative journey of Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu) a fierce tribal hunter who lives by instinct and has no faith in divinity. His life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a silent Shiva lingam deep in the forest. What begins as defiance slowly evolves into raw, unconditional devotion. With no understanding of rituals or traditions, Thinnadu worships in his own heartfelt and unfiltered way. Lord Shiva (Akshay Kumar), moved by his unique faith, decides to test his devotion, leading to an act of ultimate sacrifice that even stirs the divine. This is a tale of how a non-believer becomes a saint, narrated through themes of innocence, love, and surrender.
Acting
Vishnu Manchu fits well in the role of Thinnadu and gives a decent performance. Preity Mukhundhan, playing his wife, serves more as a visual presence with little contribution to the narrative. The supporting cast, Mohanlal, Prabhas, and Mohan Babu, deliver well within the scope of their roles. However, it’s Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva who leaves the most lasting impression. Despite being on screen for just about 15 minutes, he commands attention with his powerful presence and divine aura, embodying Shiva like no one else.
Direction
The direction, unfortunately, is one of the film’s weakest aspects. Clocking in at 3 hours and 2 minutes, the film feels unnecessarily stretched. The pacing suffers due to abrupt jump cuts, and the VFX, which should have elevated the mythological setting, often falls flat. While director Mukesh Kumar Singh manages to redeem himself slightly in the emotionally charged last 30 minutes, one wishes he had maintained that impact throughout the film.
Dialogues
Akshay Kumar’s dialogues stand out and are arguably one of the highlights of the film. His lines are powerful and memorable. However, the rest of the dialogues and monologues suffer from poor writing and lack emotional depth, much like the overall script.
Music
The music of ‘Kannappa’ struggles to find its footing. There’s an evident confusion in tone, perhaps an attempt to appeal to every kind of audience. However, the inclusion of pop elements in a mythological film feels misplaced and disrupts the overall mood. The soundtrack fails to create any lasting impact.
Overall
‘Kannappa’ may appeal to ardent devotees of Lord Shiva, especially because of Akshay Kumar’s divine portrayal and the emotional climax. But if you're looking for a well-rounded cinematic experience, the film might disappoint. Perhaps reading about Kannappa online might be a better alternative to sitting through this lengthy and uneven adaptation.
