Kannappa

Kannappa (2025) is a mythological fantasy drama by director Mukesh Kumar Singh. The film features Vishnu Manchu, Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar and Mukesh Rishi. The film centres around Thinnadu, a fearless tribal hunter whose life changes when he discovers a sacred Shiva lingam. The plot of the Thinnadu movie is essentially the journey of how he became Kannappa, a devoted devotee of Lord Shiva, through his burning desire and selflessness.

In one small forest village, Thinnadu, a fiercely brave hunter, lived a blissful life with Nemali, his beloved, without religion. One day, on his hunting trip, he stumbled upon a strange Shiva lingam, which was referred to as Lord Shiva. Thinnadu believed that the lingam was his own God. Therefore, he was the one who fed it with water and meat. His acts were nothing but love. Once, he noticed that the lingam was bleeding from one eye, and without hesitation, he took his own eye and placed it on the lingam to heal it.

Thinnadu could not have possibly been more generous; when the other eye required the same treatment, he instantly agreed to offer it. However, when Shiva appeared, he forbade Thinnadu from continuing. Shiva was deeply impressed by Thinnadu's affectionate faith. He not only gave him his eyes back, but he also granted him great powers. Thinnadu realised that to be a devotee, it does not matter if one performs rituals, but rather love and sacrifice. At last, Thinnadu was transformed into Kannappa, the people who remember him for his undying faith and bravery, his love of God and courage are what prove that true worship is the one coming from the heart. The story tells us that with real devotion, anyone can feel close to the divine, no matter where they come from.

Kannappa is a movie of great visuals and touching moments that is based on mythology. The best parts are its spiritual ideas and the super impactful last 20 minutes, which stay with you long after. Though the movie starts a bit slow, the second half makes up for it. All in all, Kannappa wins because of its cultural depth and its climax that gives you chills, really hitting home with people who are into such devotional stories.