Sat Jun 28 18:20:00 UTC 2025: ## “Kannappa” Outperforms Hollywood & Bollywood, Dominates Box Office in Opening Weekend

**Hyderabad, India – June 24, 2024** – Vishnu Manchu’s mythological action-drama, “Kannappa,” is making waves at the box office, surpassing expectations and even outperforming major releases like Kajol’s “Maa” and Brad Pitt’s “F1.” The Telugu devotional film, which hit theaters on Friday, has garnered a strong response from audiences, particularly in Telugu-speaking regions.

According to early estimates from Sacnilk, “Kannappa” grossed approximately ₹9.35 crore nett on its opening day. While collections dipped slightly on Saturday to ₹7 crore, the film has already amassed a domestic total of around ₹16.35 crore nett, demonstrating strong staying power and steady footfall across various regions.

“Kannappa,” directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, tells the epic tale of Thinnadu, a tribal hunter whose unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva leads him to sacrifice his own eyes. Vishnu Manchu portrays Thinnadu/Kannappa, supported by a star-studded cast including Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Madhoo, and Preity Mukhundhan, with notable cameo appearances by Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, and Mohanlal.

The film has shown impressive occupancy rates in Telugu-speaking areas, reaching 44.42% on Saturday, with evening shows hitting a high of 58.54%. While lacking a strong Tamil connection, the film’s universal themes and renowned cast attracted viewers in Tamil Nadu, achieving 19.84% overall occupancy. The Hindi version also saw encouraging growth, reaching nearly 29% occupancy during night screenings.

“Kannappa” marks a significant career milestone for Vishnu Manchu, poised to become his highest-grossing film to date. His previous releases, “Ginna” and “Mosagallu,” struggled to reach even ₹1 crore in their lifetime. The film’s strong opening is a welcome change after his 2014 film, ‘Rowdy’ collected Rs 3 crore on day one and Rs 11 crore in its first week.

The film features Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal as Parvathi, and Prabhas as Rudra. Despite mixed reviews from critics, “Kannappa” has clearly resonated with audiences. The film’s performance throughout the remainder of the weekend will be crucial in determining its long-term success.

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