Kannappa vs Bhairavam: Manchu Vishnu or Manoj

Manchu Vishnu’s Kannappa is now in theatres, while his brother Manchu Manoj recently made a comeback with Bhairavam, a multi-starrer.

Both brothers attempted to make a mark with their respective projects—here’s a quick comparison of who made a bigger impact, both critically and commercially.

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Between Kannappa and Bhairavam, the goodwill clearly tilts in favor of Kannappa, largely due to its ambitious attempt to tell an epic, devotional story. In contrast, Bhairavam being not just a remake but also a routine masala film, falls short on both intent and scale.

Critically, Manoj has generally been perceived as a better actor compared to Vishnu. However, his role in Bhairavam, while decent did not leave a lasting impact.

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On the other hand, Vishnu managed to surprise many with his performance in Kannappa— in the role of Thinnadu, which eventually transforms into Kannappa. The distinct setup and devotional arc helped him earn goodwill among critics and audiences alike.

From a box office perspective, both films have underperformed in the U.S. market. Kannappa, despite its recent release and pan-India reach, has not lived up to expectations in the U.S., while Bhairavam also failed to make a mark.

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However, in India, Kannappa is significantly ahead in terms of collections and visibility, although it’s not a completely fair comparison since Kannappa is a pan-India project, while Bhairavam is a regional Telugu film.

Overall, in terms of impact, Manchu Vishnu has clearly made a stronger impression with Kannappa, both critically and commercially, compared to his brother Manoj.

That said, Manoj has an exciting lineup ahead— Mirai, a pan-India film—which could potentially mark his real comeback and help him connect with a wider audience.