Vishnu Manchu's mythological pan-India film, 'Kannappa' directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh starring Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, and Mohanlal in brief roles is set to release tomorrow June 27, early reviews from trade analysts have started surfacing online and the verdict so far is highly encouraging.The film looks to be a spiritually moving experience for audiences, particularly devotees of Lord Shiva.On X (formerly Twitter), trade analyst Sumit Kadel gave 'Kannappa' a rating of 3.5 out of 5 and shared his overwhelming experience, particularly about the film's final moments."Just watched #Kannappa, and I still can't shake off the last 30 minutes from my mind. The only time I've felt something this intense was during the climax of #Kantara,” he wrote.Kadel added that the climax is "spine-chilling, emotionally overpowering and goosebumps-inducing," calling it a deeply emotional watch for Lord Shiva devotees.
As seen from the trailer shared by the makers, The film tells the tale of a tribal warrior who initially rejects the concept of God but eventually transforms into the ultimate devotee of Lord Shiva."You'll witness this transformation unfold on screen," Kadel mentioned, calling Vishnu Manchu's performance "top-notch."
He added, "His acting in the last 15 minutes could define his career. The audience will shower immense love on this role."He also praised Akshay Kumar's portrayal of Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal, who plays Goddess Parvati, is described as "graceful and emotionally resonant," while Mohanlal and Mohan Babu deliver impactful sequences. Prabhas's brief but powerful cameo as Rudra has also been well-received.
Another early viewer, reviewer Rohit Jaiswal, also took to social media to call out the last 40 minutes of the film to be spectacular.
"Last 40 min of #Kannappa is SPECTACULAR…. I have never seen anything like this before,” he wrote, calling it a "film made for Shiv Bhakts".The film has been shot extensively in locations including Christchurch, New Zealand, and includes grand visuals and a runtime of over three hours, approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes.The release was initially scheduled for April 25, 2025, but was postponed to June 27, 2025, due to extensive VFX enhancements and post-production. The film will be released in multiple languages including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.