'Kannappa’ slows down; mints only Rs 30.55 cr

Vishnu Manchu’s big-budget mythological drama 'Kannappa' kicked off with a strong opening, but the film’s performance has slowed considerably in its second week.Kannappa Movie ReviewAccording to early estimates by the Sacnilk website, it earned around Rs 35 lakhs on its eighth day, pushing the total to Rs 30.55 crore across languages.Bright opening, but numbers fall steeplyReleased with much fanfare, 'Kannappa' opened to Rs 9.35 crore on Day 1, thanks in large part to its Telugu audience. The first weekend was encouraging, with the film raking in over Rs 23 crore by Sunday.

Monday’s collections dropped to Rs 2.3 crore, and the numbers continued to slide through the week. By Thursday, daily earnings hovered at Rs 1.35 crore.Audience turnout dips across languagesThe drop wasn’t just in numbers, as it was visible in theatre occupancy too.

In the Telugu-speaking regions, occupancy on Friday averaged just under 17%. In Hindi belts, the response was even more subdued, staying around 10%. Evening and night shows did see a slight bump, which is not enough to affect the day’s overall take significantly.Crucial weekend aheadThe film’s second weekend will likely determine how long it can stay afloat. While the mythological theme had its appeal, and the star cast brought attention, the story now needs strong word-of-mouth to carry it forward.

With newer films arriving and audience interest shifting, 'Kannappa' has its task cut out if it hopes to stay in the game.Our verdictETimes gave the movie a rating of 3 stars out if 5 and our review reads, "Watch it if you enjoy sacred stories with strong visual storytelling and emotional payoff. Kannappa ends on a powerful note that resonates with devotees and admirers of culturally rooted cinema." The movie is overall getting mixed reviews from the audiences which may affect it's long run in theatres.