Vishnu Manchu's 'Kannappa' Set For OTT Debut After An Underwhelming Box Office Run

Vishnu Manchu's ambitious mythological drama, Kannappa, debuted in theatres on June 27, 2025. The film came with a lot of anticipation. It had a powerful cast, including names like Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Kajal Aggarwal, and a mythologically rich background which served as its plot. The film was a devotional epic made on a grand financial scale. Despite the early buzz and promotional chatter, the movie failed to meet box office expectations, with its viewership declining significantly after the opening weekend. Now, the film is making its way to OTT.

Digital premiere for Kannappa confirmed on Amazon Prime Video

After just four weeks in theatres, Kannappa is set to stream on Amazon Prime Video starting from July 25, 2025. The early digital release is a contrasting shift from Vishnu Manchu's earlier statements, where he had claimed that the movie wouldn't hit OTT platforms for at least 10 weeks. The change reportedly comes from the fact that the film's theatrical run was not a good one, and producers are looking to recapture the buzz and credit some more financial gains to the film again through streaming platforms. In his earlier statment to India Today, Vishnu could be quoted as saying:

“I have a very large freedom; my movie will not come to OTT before 10 weeks. That is the deal I have, and by God’s grace, I don’t have any release pressure. My only intention is to showcase the best to the audience." 

Kannappa's high-budget visuals fell short of critical praise

Made with a massive budget of approximately Rs. 200 crore, Kannappa used a lot of high-end visual effects and cinematic flair for its production. The movie was shot by cinematographer, Sheldon Chau and was released originally in Telugu and simultaneously dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, to capture a pan-Indian audience. Despite its production scale and multilingual release, the film did not earn favourable reviews, which could be one of the reasons for it to have an early shift to OTT to recover some of the viewership.

Kannappa's plot was centred around spirituality and devotion

Kannappa directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and written by Vishnu Manchu, tells the story of 'Thinnadu', who was a fierce tribal hunter who, at the beginning, is an atheist. However, his life takes a spiritual turn when he stumbles upon a Shiva Lingam in the forest. This divine encounter leads to a transformation within him that turns him into a staunch devotee of 'Lord Shiva', and earns him the name 'Kannappa'. The narrative of the film takes this folklore and blends the elements of devotion, mythology, and action into a rich cinematic experience for its audience.

All-Star cast of Kannappa brings mythology to life

The film features Vishnu Manchu in the titular role of 'Kannappa', supported by a powerhouse ensemble cast. Akshay Kumar plays 'Lord Shiva', while Prabhas appears as 'Rudra'. Mohanlal plays the role of 'Kirata', and Kajal Aggarwal plays 'Goddess Parvati'. The supporting cast includes names like Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Madhoo, and Preity Mukhundhan. These star-studded cameos and performances from such renowned actors elevate the film's mythological setting and make it a visually and emotionally charged experience.

What are your thoughts about Kannappa's OTT release?

Also Read: Who Was Real-Life Legend Kannappa? Hunter-Turned-Devotee Of Shiva, Who Inspired Vishnu Manchu's Film

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