Kannappa Box Office Day 1: Vishnu Manchu’s Mythological Epic Roars with Rs 9 Crore, But Falls Short of Expectations

On June 27, 2025, the Telugu mythological epic Kannappa hit theaters with a bang, riding high on the star power of Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal.

Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, this Rs 200 crore magnum opus, inspired by the legend of Lord Shiva’s devotee Kannappa, promised grandeur but stumbled at the Indian box office, earning Rs 9 crore nett on its opening day, as per Sacnilk.com.

Despite outperforming Kajol’s Maa (Rs 4.5 crore) and Brad Pitt’s F1 (Rs 5.25 crore), the film fell short of the anticipated 15–20 crore mark, sparking debates across X platforms like @AndhraBoxOffice and @BFilmyOfficiaI.

Mixed reviews, a slow first half, and a soul-stirring climax define this cinematic gamble. This article dives into Kannappa’s Day 1 performance, its highs and lows, and why it’s a trending topic for cinema buffs.

• Opening Day Collection: Kannappa earned Rs 9 crore nett in India on June 27, 2025, with estimates suggesting up to Rs 11 crore in some reports.
• Regional Performance: Telugu regions led with 55.89% occupancy, while Hindi (14.56%), Tamil (16.45%), Kannada (13.81%), and Malayalam (7.20%) trailed.
• Star Power Impact: Cameos by Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal drove footfalls, especially in Telugu states, per India Today.
• Mixed Reviews: Critics noted a weak first half but praised the emotional climax, with fans on X (@Thyview) calling the final 40 minutes “spectacular.”
• Competitive Landscape: Outperformed Maa and F1 but faces challenges from Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par and upcoming releases.

The Box Office Breakdown

Kannappa opened across 2,079 screens in India, with 1,081 in Telugu, 522 in Hindi, 294 in Malayalam, 131 in Tamil, and 51 in Kannada, per The Indian Express.

By 10 PM on June 27, Sacnilk reported Rs 9 crore nett, though Pinkvilla estimated Rs 11 crore, with Telugu states contributing Rs 8.5 crore. Early estimates varied, with @AndhraBoxOffice noting Rs 9.4 crore from 4,866 shows and 35.98% overall occupancy.

Hyderabad and Bengaluru led screenings, with Telugu occupancy peaking at 69.87% during night shows, per Indian Express. Vizianagaram alone grossed Rs 9.32 lakh, as tweeted by @rao_goka, marking a strong regional start.

Despite this, the film fell short of Koimoi’s predicted 17–20 crore opening, which aimed to surpass Nani’s HIT 3 (Rs 19 crore) for Tollywood’s fourth-biggest 2025 opener.

Compared to Vishnu Manchu’s previous film Ginna (Rs 0.2 crore), Kannappa’s 2300% higher opening is a career-high, per Koimoi. However, the Rs 200 crore budget sets a steep recovery target, needing over 150 crore nett to break even, as Koimoi noted.

Weekend growth is expected, but mixed word-of-mouth may hinder a major turnaround.

The Film: A Mythological Spectacle

Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, known for mythological TV serials, Kannappa tells the story of Thinnadu, an atheist hunter who becomes Lord Shiva’s ultimate devotee, famously plucking out his eyes in devotion.

Vishnu Manchu, who also wrote the screenplay, stars alongside Preity Mukhundhan, Kajal Aggarwal (Parvati Devi), Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Brahmanandam, and others.

Cameos by Akshay Kumar (Lord Shiva), Mohanlal (Kirata), and Prabhas (Rudra) added massive buzz, with @spurthi696 on X praising the “intense” action sequences blending mythology and modern thrills.

The film’s narrative, rooted in Hindu lore, aims for emotional resonance but falters in execution. India Today’s Sanjay Ponnappa rated it 2.5/5, citing a “melodramatic and outdated touch” in direction and screenplay.

The Hindu’s review echoed this, noting an “overpopulated and underwritten” cast, with only Sarathkumar and Mohan Babu leaving a mark. However, the second half, especially the final 40 minutes, won praise for its “soul-stirring” climax, as per Times of India’s ETimes.

Fans on X, like @Thyview, lauded Prabhas’ entry and Vishnu’s emotional depth, with @BFilmyOfficiaI estimating a Rs 15 crore worldwide gross, including Rs 2 crore overseas.

Why the Underwhelming Start?

Several factors contributed to Kannappa’s below-par opening:

• Mixed Reviews: Critics slammed the slow first half and VFX quality, with The Hindu noting a lack of “emotional clarity.” The second half’s strength couldn’t fully salvage the narrative, per SCREEN’s review.
• High Expectations: A Rs 200 crore budget and star cameos set a 15–20 crore benchmark, per Koimoi. Falling short disappointed trade analysts.
• Competition: Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par continued its strong run, while Kajol’s Maa and Brad Pitt’s F1 competed for screens, per Hindustan Times.
• Regional Disparity: Telugu regions showed 55.89% occupancy, but weaker performances in Hindi (14.56%) and Malayalam (7.20%) limited overall collections, per Sacnilk.
• Audience Fatigue: The film’s 2-hour-40-minute runtime and pacing issues frustrated some viewers, as noted on X (@Thyview).

Competitive Edge: Beating Maa and F1

Despite its struggles, Kannappa outperformed competitors. Kajol’s Maa, a mythological horror in Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan universe, earned Rs 4.5 crore nett with 24.22% Hindi occupancy, half of Kannappa’s haul, per Hindustan Times.

Brad Pitt’s F1 collected Rs 5.25 crore, also trailing, per India Today. Kannappa’s Telugu dominance, driven by Prabhas’ fanbase, gave it an edge, with Hyderabad’s night shows hitting 69.87% occupancy, per Indian Express.

However, Maa’s unique horror appeal and F1’s Hollywood draw pose ongoing threats, especially with Sitaare Zameen Par holding strong.

Why This Story Trends

Kannappa’s Day 1 performance is a hot topic for several reasons:

• Star Power: Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal’s cameos drove buzz, with X posts like @M9News_ reporting Rs 99.3 lakh gross in Vizag alone.
• Mythological Appeal: The Shiva devotee narrative resonates with audiences, especially in Telugu states, as @spurthi696 noted for its “goosebump BGM.”
• Box Office Drama: Outperforming Maa and F1 but missing the 10-crore mark keeps analysts talking, per @AndhraBoxOffice.
• Vishnu Manchu’s Milestone: His career-best opening, 2300% higher than Ginna, fuels fan excitement, per Koimoi.
• Cultural Resonance: The film’s devotional climax appeals to Shiva bhakts, making it a social media darling, as @Thyview tweeted.

Challenges Ahead

• Budget Recovery: With a Rs 200 crore budget, Kannappa needs over 150 crore nett to break even, a steep climb given mixed reviews, per Koimoi.
• Word-of-Mouth: Negative feedback on pacing and VFX could cap weekend growth, despite a promising Saturday, per India Today.
• Competition: Sitaare Zameen Par’s momentum and new releases like Sonakshi Sinha’s Nikita Roy challenge its run, per Koimoi.
• Overseas Performance: Weak US pre-sales ($10.3K vs. Kuberaa’s $193.25K) suggest limited global appeal, per Koimoi.

Broader Implications

Tollywood’s Ambition

Kannappa’s scale reflects Tollywood’s push for pan-Indian epics, following Baahubali and RRR. However, its underwhelming start questions whether star cameos alone can justify massive budgets, as noted by The Hindu.

Mythological Genre

The film’s mixed reception highlights the challenge of balancing devotion with modern storytelling. Success in Telugu regions suggests regional appeal, but weaker Hindi and Malayalam numbers call for sharper execution, per Sacnilk.

Box Office Trends

Kannappa’s outperformance of Maa and F1 shows Tollywood’s edge in star-driven markets, but Sitaare Zameen Par’s dominance underscores Bollywood’s narrative strength, per News18.

Tips for Fans

• Book Tickets: Check BookMyShow for Hyderabad and Bengaluru shows, where occupancy is highest.
• Stream Highlights: Follow @KannappaTheMovie on X for clips of Prabhas and Akshay Kumar’s cameos.
• Engage Online: Join #Kannappa discussions on X to share reactions, as @BFilmyOfficiaI’s estimates spark debate.
• Plan Weekend Viewing: Saturday’s expected growth makes it ideal for catching the climax’s “goosebump” moments.
• Explore Shiva Lore: Dive into Kannappa’s legend via temple websites for deeper context.

Vishnu Manchu’s Kannappa roared onto screens on June 27, 2025, with a Rs 9 crore nett opening, outpacing Kajol’s Maa and Brad Pitt’s F1 but falling short of its 15–20 crore hype.

Powered by Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal’s cameos, the Telugu epic shone in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with 55.89% occupancy, but struggled elsewhere. Mixed reviews—praising the devotional climax but panning the slow first half—temper its prospects, yet its Rs 11 crore estimated gross marks Vishnu’s career-best start.

As fans on X (@Thyview) hail the “super blockbuster” second half, Kannappa remains a trending saga of faith, ambition, and cinematic grit. Whether it climbs the Rs 200 crore mountain or not, this Shiva devotee’s tale has sparked a box office fire worth watching.