Cast: Sarath Kumar, Mohanlal, Mohan Babu, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Vishnu Manchu, Kajal Aggarwal, Madhubala, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmanandam, Preeti Mukundan, Sampat Ram
Producer: Dr. Mohan Babu
Music: Stephen Devassey
Cinematography: Sheldon Chau
Story & Screenplay: Vishnu Manchu
Direction: Mukesh Kumar Singh
PRO: Aswath Saravanan
Kannappa Nayanar is one of the 63 Nayanmars. Born into a hunter community, he witnessed his friend being sacrificed to Goddess Kali in his childhood, and from that day onwards, he became an atheist. Meanwhile, he stops and destroys groups that come to devastate their region and steal the Vayu Linga from that area. The film Kannappa tells the story of how this atheist became a devotee of Shiva, and how he witnessed blood tears flowing from the Shiva Linga and donated his own eyes to stop it.
Many devotional films were made during the black and white era, and many films came as color movies too. But when it was announced that a devotional film, especially a Nayanmar film, was being made during this era of pan-Indian films, there was doubt about how they would create this film suitable for this period. However, they have created and delivered the film Kannappa in a way that answers all those doubts. For this alone, a big garland of appreciation can be placed on the film crew, especially Vishnu Manchu, who took care of the story and screenplay and acted in the character of Kannappa.
Vishnu, who acted in the character of Kannappa, has another name - Thinnan. Throughout the film, this real name is used to refer to his character, and only in the climax do they touchingly portray how he becomes Kannappa.
Director Mukesh Kumar Singh has directed the entire first half as commercially as possible.
The romantic scenes acted by Vishnu Manchu and Preeti, who plays opposite him, are intimately close. It evokes the same excitement as watching a film directed by director Karnan of that era.
Vishnu Manchu has sculpted himself as much as possible for the character of Kannappa. In fight scenes, he shows aggression and makes sparks fly through thrilling action sequences.
The climax scenes where Vishnu Manchu transforms into a Shiva devotee make you watch without blinking an eye.
Hugging the Shiva Linga and melting, carrying water in his mouth to perform abhishekam, wearing flowers on his head and placing them on the Linga, cooking pork and offering it as prasadam - Vishnu Manchu has presented 100% of Kannappa Nayanar's devotional ecstasy before our eyes. As the pinnacle of all this, when he sees the blood flowing from the Shiva Linga's eyes, gets shocked, and in response digs out his own eyes and places them on the Shiva Linga, it gives goosebumps.
Sarath Kumar appears as the leader of the hunter community. Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, and Prabhas have acted as Shiva in different scenes. Besides this, a huge star cast has acted in this film.
Dr. Mohan Babu has produced the film and also acted with devotional fervor as Mahadeva Sastri, who performs puja to the Vayu Linga.
Stephen Devassey has provided pan-Indian music. Sheldon Chau's cinematography has showered greenery.
The research-based writing of Vishnu Manchu, who wrote the story and screenplay, makes Kannappa complete.
Director Mukesh Kumar Singh has directed it as a certain percentage commercial rather than making it completely a devotional film, trying to draw a large fan following into the cinema.
Kannappa - A feast for cinema lovers.
