Vishnu Manchu’s Kannappa Faces Piracy Blow Days After Release; Makers Had Warned of Stolen VFX Drive
Actor Vishnu Manchu, who stars in and co-produces the ambitious mythological action-drama Kannappa, has raised serious concerns over rampant piracy of the film, which released in theatres on June 27, 2025. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vishnu revealed that over 30,000 pirated links of the film have already been taken down, calling the development “heartbreaking.” The film, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced under the banner of veteran actor Mohan Babu, tells the story of Thinnadu, a warrior who transforms into a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. The pan-India cast includes Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, Mohanlal as Kirata, and Prabhas as Rudra, with Kajal Aggarwal and Preity Mukundhan playing key roles. Theft Incident Before Release Alarmingly, the piracy news follows an earlier security breach. Just ten days before the filmтАЩs release, the makers filed a police complaint over the theft of a hard drive that contained a crucial VFX-heavy action sequence. The drive was reportedly stolen in transit while being shipped from Hive Studios, Mumbai, to the production headquarters. At the time, the team suspected foul play aimed at leaking content or sabotaging the film’s release. Box Office & Reception Despite the challenges, Kannappa had a decent theatrical opening, collecting тВ╣9 crore on day one, with Telugu occupancy at nearly 56%. By the end of the opening weekend, it had amassed тВ╣23.75 crore across five languages тАФ Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Critical Response Reviews for Kannappa have been mixed. A review in The Hindu described the film as “overpopulated and underwritten,” despite its impressive cast. While Sarath Kumar and Mohan Babu were praised for their performances, critics noted that Vishnu Manchu delivered an emotional climax but struggled with consistency throughout. The review highlighted that the filmтАЩs attempt at grandeur compromised emotional depth and cultural resonance, stating: “In striving for grandeur, it forgets to tell the story that matters.“ Industry Concerns With piracy continuing to plague high-budget Indian films, especially those with heavy VFX work and pan-India ambitions, Kannappa‘s case underscores the vulnerability of digital assets during production and post-production stages. The incident has also reignited discussions about tightening security measures and expediting legal frameworks to tackle digital piracy. As Kannappa enters its second week, industry watchers will be closely monitoring its box office momentum, especially in light of these setbacks and how effectively the makers can control the piracy spread.
