Kannappa Review

Kannappa, a 12th-century devotee of Lord Shiva born in Andhra Pradesh, holds a revered place in South Indian spiritual lore. He is venerated as a saint in the Saiva Siddhanta tradition, which teaches that the ultimate goal of devotion is union with the divine. In some temples, tradition dictates that devotees first offer prayers to Kannappa before worshipping Shiva himself. His legend lives on through ancient inscriptions, stone engravings and a wealth of literary works.

Over the years, six films have explored Kannappa's life, including the popular Bhakta Kannappa starring Krishnam Raju and Jayaprada with its evergreen songs - and now, a long-awaited seventh has finally arrived. The project began over a decade ago, originally envisioned by Tanikella Bharani in 2013. However, due to the lack of a producer, the script eventually found its way to Vishnu Manchu. Taking ownership of the project, Manchu collaborated with screenwriters and contributed to the writing himself.

Just as the film neared completion, disaster struck - the drive containing key action and VFX footage was stolen. Fortunately, the team managed to recover and restore the material. The film finally released on June 27, under the weight of high expectations. It had already made headlines - not just for the footage theft, but also due to the simmering feud within the Manchu family.

Kannappa was born into a humble hunter-gatherer family, and was originally named Thinna. His is the story of an atheist turning into a devout follower of Lord Shiva. Driven by pure, unlearned devotion, Thinna is said to have offered simple tributes to a Shiva lingam: leaves, water and food including meat, acts that defied ritual norms but overflowed with sincerity.

Lore has it that one day Thinna saw two eyes appear on the Shiva lingam, and one of them start to bleed. He then plucked out one of his own eyes and replaced the bleeding one on the lingam. The second eye on the lingam then started to bleed, and Thinna then prepared to pluck out his own second eye to replace it, when Lord Shiva Himself manifested and stopped him.

Now that you already know the core of the legend, you might wonder how one can stretch it into a full-length feature, especially one that runs for 182 minutes. The answer is simple - through a generous use of creative liberty and the weaving of multiple subplots. And it's all that not bad. Nearly half the film is occupied by these subplots, but when the story returns to the scriptural arc, it doesn't feel disjointed or incoherent.

The film thus shows five tribal clans inhabiting a vast forest, each with distinct rituals and codes - some even involving human sacrifice. Thinna, a rebellious soul, rejects these practices. Deep within the forest lies a sacred Vayulingam, protected by Shastri (Mohan Babu). A powerful sixth tribe, stronger than all five combined, covets the lingam for its supposed miraculous powers. In response, the five tribes unite to protect it.

Amid this tension, a romance blossoms between Thinna and Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), the princess of a rival tribe. This forbidden love sparks conflict and ultimately leads to Thinna's exile. This subplot - rich with opportunities for songs, combat sequences and sweeping visuals - takes full advantage of the film's scenic Australian and New Zealand landscapes. While it is a clear detour from the original scriptural tale, it's engaging and never feels like a drag.

During Thinna's exile, he encounters Kirat (Mohanlal) in a pivotal face-off. The film hints that Thinna is an incarnation of Arjuna, and that Kirat is Shiva in disguise - a clear nod to the episode during the Pandavas' exile from the Mahabharata. However, this interpretation conflicts with the canon, as Arjuna is primarily a devotee of Krishna, not Shiva. Still, the film continues its mythic expansion: Rudra (Prabhas) appears to ignite devotion in Thinna, while Shiva (Akshay Kumar) and Parvati (Kajal Aggarwal) are shown orchestrating events from the heavens - framing Thinna's journey as divine destiny.

The film walks a fine line between scripture and spectacle. It embellishes the legend by adding layers of fiction, but never loses narrative grip. And when Thinna finally awakens to divine truth and becomes a true devotee, the story - both scripturally and cinematically - finds its rhythm.

The film's standout moments come from the extended cameos by Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal and Prabhas. While Kumar and Aggarwal play the archetypal deities with serene grace, it is Prabhas who truly lights up the screen. I was initially skeptical - the Adipurush shadow loomed large - but Prabhas surprises with a commanding screen presence and a performance that is both grounded and powerful.

Mohanlal as Kirat appears briefly in a gripping action sequence alongside Manchu. With his now cherubic presence, he might remind some of a Kung Fu Panda - but one that fights with precision and flair. In just a few lines, he delivers a poignant lesson on ego with effortless conviction.

Yet, it is Manchu who anchors the film with one of the most powerful and emotionally charged climaxes seen in recent mythological cinema. In the final 30 minutes, he transcends performance, and becomes Kannappa - a soul stripped bare in devotion, raw and real. You forget you're watching an actor; you witness a devotee surrendering his everything to his god. It's nearly impossible to hold back tears as the film reaches its spiritual crescendo.

However, where the film falters is in its technical execution. The VFX and art direction are glaring weak points. A giant spider, a cobra, a boa constrictor, and even an elephant - all brought to life via CGI - appear clumsy and jarring, especially against the breathtaking natural backdrops of Australia and New Zealand. The contrast is stark and distracting.

The makeup and costumes don't fare much better. Many characters are adorned with tattoos that look like quick stick-ons from a street fair, not something you'd expect in a 12th-century setting. The wardrobe too lacks the period authenticity you would hope for in a mythological epic.

On the musical front, the devotional songs stand out and elevate key moments. But Stephen Devassy's background score feels uneven - often loud and disconnected from the emotional core of the scenes.

Despite its flaws, this film is worth your time - particularly for its climactic final act and Vishnu Manchu's impassioned portrayal of Kannappa. As he shared on X, "This moment... I've waited for it my entire life... It's no longer my film, it's yours now," alongside a stirring poster of him offering his eyes to Lord Shiva.