Kannappa trailer: Akshay Kumar’s portrayal of Lord Shiva (in his Telugu debut) in the recently released Kannappa trailer has sparked debate across social media. Although the film has attracted attention for its mythological storyline and ensemble cast, Akshay’s look and performance have received a divided response. A number of viewers were unimpressed, describing his appearance as “odd” and finding the Telugu dubbing off-putting and unnatural.

The trailer of Kannappa, featuring Vishnu Manchu and Akshay Kumar, was released on social media recently. The film is inspired by the legendary story of Kannappa, a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva. With Vishnu Manchu in the lead role, the movie portrays the powerful journey of a fearless devotee, set against a visually stunning and emotionally charged backdrop. Akshay Kumar appears as Lord Shiva, sharing the screen with Telugu superstars Mohanlal and Prabhas.

Reacting to the trailer, some people called it ‘not bad’ and others felt Akshay didn’t look the best for this role. Some even mentioned how they know Akshay can’t speak Telugu and the AI dub sounds jarring.

Kannappa Official Trailer- Telugu | Vishnu Manchu | Mohan Babu | Prabhas | Mohanlal | Akshay Kumar
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One wrote, “Sorry, just bad. They should shot the movie in India instead. The characters does not look like medieval Hindus who lived in Kannapa time. More like Amazon tribes. Akki and Kajal looks odd as Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.”

Another added, “Looks like AI dubbing is the new norm now. We know Akshay and Lal cannot speak telugu, so it's just jarring.”

A third went on to add, “Despite all the other issues, one thing that irks me the most is the costumes. It looks extremely cheap and unauthentic. Some of the scenes/shots look stupid simply because of their outfits tbh.”

Helmed by director Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa also features Kajal Aggarwal and Preity Mukhundhan in key roles. The film is set to release in theatres on June 27.