Indian cinema is currently witnessing a wave of larger-than-life films. Whenever a movie boasts a massive budget and a star-studded cast, audiences’ expectations soar. This was precisely the case with the Telugu film Kannappa, released in 2025. Made with an enormous budget of around Rs 200 crore, it was promoted as a film that would make history by bringing together stars from South Indian and Bollywood cinema.
However, a weak storyline and underwhelming VFX led to a flop, and despite its star-studded cast, theatres remained empty, earning it the unenviable title of the year’s biggest disaster film.
Star-Studded Cast Fails To Save The Film
The biggest selling point of Kannappa was its cast. Vishnu Manchu played the lead role, but the main excitement centred on the cameo appearances.
Pan-India South star Prabhas, Malayalam legend Mohanlal, and Bollywood’s ‘Khiladi’ Akshay Kumar all featured in the film. Audiences expected that seeing these three icons together on screen would create a cinematic spectacle.
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Unfortunately, even the combined stardom of these actors could not compensate for the film’s weak story.
Weak Script Leads To Box Office Failure
Critics and audiences alike pointed to the weak script and outdated treatment as the primary reasons for the film’s failure. Despite the Rs 200 crore investment, the VFX and special effects failed to impress viewers.
In an era where audiences have experienced visual spectacles like Baahubali and Kantara, any shortfall in presentation is quickly rejected.
Box Office Struggles
From the very first day, the film’s earnings began to decline. Despite heavy promotion and a star-studded cast, theatres remained largely empty.
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Kannappa, which aimed to recover its Rs 200 crore cost, struggled to even reach half of that.
Critical Reception And Financial Loss
Critics gave the film poor reviews, which directly impacted its box office performance. Vishnu Manchu’s Kannappa managed to earn only Rs 44 crore worldwide, turning it into a major commercial disaster.
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