Disappointing visuals, underutilized star cast and a disjointed story fail to meet the hype. Can the film redeem itself? Read in-depth analysis to find out if Kannappa is a missed opportunity or just a bad first impression.
In a Nutshell
• Visuals not very impressive
• Big cast but underutilized
• Story falls apart
• Music didn’t land well
• Expectations vs. Reality
• Conclusion
Hey, cinema fans! Here’s my review of the Kannappa trailer, the highly anticipated Telugu mythological action drama starring Vishnu Manchu, with cameo roles by Prabhas and Akshay Kumar. Released on June 14, 2025, and, well… let’s just say I’m not exactly jumping up and down with excitement.
Let’s dive into why this trailer disappointed me, being real and honest.
A Visual Rollercoaster—Not the Good Kind
First things first, let’s talk about the visuals. The Kannappa trailer tries to capture the scale of epics like Baahubali through aerial views of forests, hills, and tribal battles. Some scenes, like those aerial views of New Zealand’s landscape, look promising and big-budget.
But then, just when you think it can’t get any worse, you’re inundated with images that appear to be from a cheap TV program. At best, the computer-generated imagery (CGI) is sloppy, with cheap effects and awkward transitions that scream “unfinished.”
It’s as if the trailer itself didn’t know whether it was a cinematic masterpiece or a rushed streaming special. Fans on X seem to agree, with one stating, “Kannappa trailer visuals are a mixed bag—some shots wow, others flop.”
The production house, courtesy of Mohan Babu’s AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory, allegedly spent over ₹100 crore, but you can’t help wondering where all that money went. For a film aiming to be a pan-India spectacle, these visual blunders are worrisome.
Star Power That Fizzles Out
Now, let’s get to the cast, as Kannappa is full of heavyweights. Actor Vishnu Manchu plays Thinnadu, aka Bhakta Kannappa, the warrior-saint of Lord Shiva. Prabhas as Rudra, Akshay Kumar in his Telugu debut as Lord Shiva, and Mohanlal as Kirata. Sounds like a dream team, right? Well, not really.
The trailer relies heavily on these names for marketing, but they appear on screen more as a publicity stunt. Prabhas, normally a scene-stealer, has a royal entry that feels underwhelming. His “Rudra avatar” lacks the zip you’d expect from the Baahubali hero, and the trailer hardly gives him a chance to shine.
Akshay Kumar’s Lord Shiva moment is also a letdown. His scenes seem contrived and carry no emotional weight.
It’s fun to spot Mohanlal in a cameo as Kirata, but it’s far too brief to make an impact. Vishnu Manchu, however, has clearly given his heart and soul to the film—he penned the story and screenplay, for goodness’ sake—but his performance in the trailer feels awkward. His line delivery, especially during the dramatic parts, is stiff, and some lines themselves are cringe-worthy.
Here’s what one X user wrote: “Vishnu tries, but the dialogues are giving B-movie vibes.” Ouch.
A Story That’s All Over the Place
The Kannappa trailer promises a story of transformation, tracing Kannappa’s path from a doubting tribal warlord to Lord Shiva’s most ardent follower. Based on the ancient myth of Bhakta Kannappa, famous for his extreme act of faith—offering his eyes to Shiva.
That’s compelling, but the trailer can’t quite sell the emotional core. It seesaws between action-warrior drama, spiritual vignettes, and tribal combat involving the mysterious Vayulingam, failing to connect the dots.
The pacing is frenetic, as if the trailer is cramming too much into three minutes. One moment, Kannappa battles enemies with exaggerated action moves; the next, he’s piously questioning God’s existence. The transition from action to devotion is jarring, and the trailer leaves you unsure of what’s at stake.
It’s reminiscent of Kanguva, the Suriya-starrer that generated massive hype but bombed, becoming one of India’s biggest flops. Fandom on X is drawing the same parallel, with one post stating, “Kannappa trailer feels like Kanguva 2.0—big cast, big mess.”
That’s not the word-of-mouth you want for a
film opening on June 27, 2025.
Music and Technical Details: A Mixed Bag
The background music by Stephen Devassy, assisted by Devi Sri Prasad and Mani Sharma, attempts to add gravitas to the trailer. While some tracks hit the mark, particularly in the action sequences, others feel clichéd, as if lifted from a generic music library. The music doesn’t quite sync with the mood, further contributing to the trailer’s disjointed feel.
Technically, the trailer shows some ambition. Locations in Hyderabad and New Zealand are lavishly detailed, and the costumes aim to be period-specific, though some appear oddly modern in a mythological context.
However, the editing is disappointing—jerky jump cuts and incoherent transitions make it hard to follow the story. The VFX, as mentioned, are lackluster. With such a hefty budget, you’d expect smoother effects, especially with the high bar set by Indian films like RRR.
The Hype vs. Reality
When the first trailer for Kannappa dropped, the buzz was unreal. Vishnu Manchu’s decade-long dream project, a never-before-seen all-star cast, and a universal mythological tale that could go pan-India? It seemed like a sure-fire hit. But the trailer falls short of the hype. It feels like a missed opportunity for what could have been a path-breaking film.
The delay in the trailer’s release from June 13 due to the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad was a classy gesture, but even such goodwill can’t cover up the trailer’s shortcomings.
X users have divided opinions. Some are hopeful, with one tweet stating, “Give Kannappa a chance, the movie might be better than the trailer!” Others are less kind, like this one: “Big budget, big stars, big letdown. Kannappa trailer is a snooze.”
The Adipurush and Kanguva comparisons are unavoidable, and I fear this could be another case of an overhyped movie flopping.
Last Thoughts: Can Kannappa Turn It Around?
Look, I wanted to love the Kannappa trailer. A tale of sacrifice, devotion, and epic showdowns should have been a slam dunk, with Vishnu Manchu’s commitment and a cast featuring Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal.
Yet, the trailer is a chaotic mess—strobing visuals, lackluster performances from marquee stars, and a story that just can’t connect the dots. It spells disaster, and I’m not sure the film can overcome this first impression when it releases on June 27, 2025. Trailers don’t always reflect the final product, though.
The movie might surprise us with a more polished approach, better VFX, and performances that outshine the trailer. For now, I’m not holding my breath. Kannappa has a huge budget and a huge cast, but this trailer is a huge disappointment in my book. What do you all think?
Were you as hyped for the trailer as I was, or are you just as disappointed? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Until then, let’s hope Kannappa surprises us!
Stay connected with me on X for daily box office updates.
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