While nobody knows what the budget of Kannappa actually is, Manchu Vishnu has stated that its budget is so huge that even OTT rights won't make much of a difference. While non-theatrical rights would ease the risk factor, what OTT platforms might pay won't cover the budget, he implied.
Manchu Vishnu must have counted on the two streaming giants (Netflix and Amazon Prime Video) when he commissioned Kannappa. But since these platforms have stopped shelling out vast monies for OTT rights, Kannappa has to make do with theatrical revenues alone. Vishnu is on record stating that Kannappa hasn't been screened for any OTT platform.
Trade circles have wondered how Manchu Vishnu and Mohan Babu have dared to invest Rs 200 Cr (the number is most likely vastly exaggerated) in Kannappa. The tentpole project is a devotional adventure action film. The pan-Indian release has, thus far, failed to create buzz for itself through its promotional material. Its recently-released Teaser was a washout with no highs. Prabhas' cameo is the only trump card left for the makers. Prabhas' appearance, one hopes, is not a blink-and-you-will-miss-it one.
Vishnu is admittedly counting on God performing a miracle. Kannappa is slated to hit the cinemas on April 25th.
