Who’s Playing the Gods in Kannappa? Star Cameos Revealed
The upcoming mythological Telugu film Kannappa, set to release on June 27, 2025, has captured widespread attention not only for its epic storyline and grand visuals but also for its remarkable lineup of cameo appearances.
The Star-Studded Cameos: Who’s Playing Whom?
Kannappa brings together an extraordinary ensemble of star cameos that elevate the film’s mythological scope.
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal appears as Kirata, a divine hunter and a powerful form of Lord Shiva.
Prabhas makes a striking appearance as Rudra.
Akshay Kumar, marking his debut in Telugu cinema, takes on the revered role of Lord Shiva.
Kajal Aggarwal steps into the role of Goddess Parvati.
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Kannappa is inspired by the legendary devotee of Lord Shiva from Hindu mythology. It follows the transformation of Thinnadu, a fierce tribal hunter, into Kannappa, a symbol of selfless devotion. The title role is portrayed by Vishnu Manchu, who is also credited as a writer on the film.
The story explores themes of faith, sacrifice, and divine intervention, supported by a script developed in collaboration with eminent writers including Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, G. Nageswara Reddy, G. Eshwar Reddy, and Thota Prasad, with additional input from Sai Madhav Burra and V. Vijayendra Prasad.
The film stars Vishnu Manchu in the lead role as Thinnadu, who later becomes Kannappa. His younger version is played by Avram Baktha Manchu.
Mohan Babu appears as Mahadeva Shastri, while R. Sarathkumar plays Nathanathudu. Preity Mukhundhan takes on the role of Nemali, the female lead. The cast also includes Madhoo, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmaji, Brahmanandam, Siva Balaji, Arpit Ranka, Raghu Babu, Kaushal Manda, Saptagiri, Karunas, and others in important supporting roles.
The project has had a long development history. Originally envisioned by actor-director Tanikella Bharani in 2013 as Bhaktha Kannappa, the script eventually reached Vishnu Manchu, who adapted it under his banner 24 Frames Factory, in collaboration with AVA Entertainments.
After years of scriptwork and pre-production, the film was formally launched with a pooja ceremony at Srikalahasteeswara Temple on August 18, 2023.
The film’s soundtrack is composed by Stephen Devassy, blending devotional depth with cinematic flair. The lyrics are penned by Suddala Ashok Teja, Ramajogayya Sastry, and Bhaskarabhatla.
At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the team unveiled the first teaser for Kannappa following the premiere of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. The teaser received widespread appreciation for its visuals and emotional tone.
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While originally slated for April 25, 2025, the release was pushed to June 27, 2025, to accommodate VFX enhancements. The film will release in six languages: Telugu (original), Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.
In early 2025, the production house faced allegations of copyright takedowns, which Vishnu Manchu publicly addressed as misinformation. A cybercrime case was filed against a YouTuber in relation to this.
On May 27, 2025, the team reported the theft of a hard drive containing crucial VFX and action footage. They described it as an act of “sabotage and personal vendetta” in an official statement.
