Vishnu Manchu's Kannappa is off to a strong start at the box office, leading over the week’s other high-profile releases — Kajol’s Maa and Brad Pitt’s F1. Despite mixed reviews, the devotional mythological drama has struck a chord with Telugu audiences and is showing promise in other regions.
Box Office Collection:
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Day 1 (Friday): ₹9.35 crore nett
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Day 2 (Saturday): ₹7 crore nett
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Total (2 days): ₹16.35 crore nett (India)
Occupancy Insights (Saturday):
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Telugu: 44.42% overall (rising to 58.54% by night)
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Tamil: 19.84% (afternoon and night shows performed better)
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Hindi: 17.37% overall, nearly 29% by night
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Malayalam: Modest, at 5.81%, improving slightly later in the day
Despite no strong Tamil or Malayalam roots, the film benefited from its pan-India release strategy and star-studded cameos.
Star Power & Mythological Appeal:
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Vishnu Manchu plays Thinnadu/Kannappa, a tribal hunter whose fierce devotion to Lord Shiva leads to the ultimate sacrifice.
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Prabhas appears as Rudra, Akshay Kumar as Shiva, and Kajal Aggarwal as Parvati.
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Other prominent actors include Mohanlal, Sarathkumar, Madhoo, Preity Mukhundhan, Brahmanandam, and Mohan Babu.
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The storyline, steeped in devotion and sacrifice, particularly resonates with Telugu audiences.
Performance Context:
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This is shaping up to be Vishnu Manchu’s highest-grossing film to date. His previous films Mosagallu and Ginna struggled to cross ₹1 crore lifetime.
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His last notable opener was Rowdy in 2014, which grossed ₹3 crore on Day 1 and ₹11 crore in Week 1.
