Subhechcha Ganguly 
Kannappa, the long-anticipated devotional epic starring Vishnu Manchu, hit theatres this Friday to mixed reviews from critics and audiences. While the film’s second half and a powerful cameo by Prabhas earned praise, many pointed out inconsistencies in the visual effects (VFX) as a weak link. Addressing the criticism, lead actor and producer Vishnu Manchu admitted that he chose to cut several impactful scenes from the film due to substandard VFX quality.
Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, Vishnu revealed, “The editor, director, and I sacrificed some excellent scenes in the film because the VFX was not on the level we expected it to be.” He went on to reflect on the decision as a hard-learned lesson. “It’s a massive lesson for me, though. I’ll never repeat that mistake again,” he said, adding that most viewers didn’t even notice the missing scenes, which offered some relief to the team.
Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa is a passion project Vishnu has nurtured for nearly a decade. The film tells the mythological tale of Thinnadu, an atheist hunter who transforms into one of Lord Shiva’s greatest devotees. Backed by a stellar ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, and Mohan Babu, the film boasts grandeur in both storytelling and production.
Despite the mixed critical response, Kannappa recorded the highest opening in Vishnu Manchu’s career and continues to show steady performance at the box office. The film’s mythological narrative, emotional depth, and stellar cameos have drawn crowds, even as technical criticisms make headlines.
With Kannappa, Vishnu Manchu not only brought a long-cherished dream to the screen but also walked away with a creative takeaway about the delicate balance between ambition and execution in filmmaking.
