Mega-budgeted films can go either way. If films like RRR and Pushpa 2 made huge profits, Kanguva and the more recent Game Changer incurred terrible losses.
In this context, trade circles are wondering how Manchu Vishnu and Mohan Babu have dared to invest Rs 200 Cr in Kannappa. The tentpole project is a spiritual adventure action film. The pan-Indian release has, thus far, failed to create buzz for itself through its promotional material. 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. If it is there for 3-5 minutes (in which case it will be a special role and not just a cameo), Vishnu would be able to talk about it as a major highlight even after the movie's release.
The market potential of Kannappa turning out to be limited will dissuade many future producers from investing heavily in non-superstar movies regardless of the genre. Already, the failure of some films like Chatrapathi (Hindi film starring Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas), Martin and Upendra's UI has weakened the resolve of many producers to mount spectacle movies. Kanguva, Vettaiyan, and Indian 2 flopping has diminished Kollywood's appetite for crazy budgets. Game Changer has been a wake-up call for Telugu cinema.
