Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 postponed? Vishnu Manchu confirms December release for Kannappa
Recent rumours about production issues with Pushpa 2: The Rule seem to hold some truth. This development has been indirectly confirmed by Vishnu Manchu, who announced that his mythological drama, Kannappa, will hit cinemas in December.
Kannappa poster
It seems all the rumours about the trouble in the production of Pushpa 2: The Rule are somewhat true. In the last few days, speculations have been rife about the growing rift between director Sukumar and Telugu superstar Allu Arjun. Many industry sources predicted that the release of Pushpa 2 might be pushed to next year owing to production delays. On Thursday, Vishnu Manchu confirmed that his mythological drama will arrive in cinemas in December, adding more credence to troubling reports about Pushpa 2.
"December 2024 #Kannappa #HarHarMahadev," tweeted Vishnu Manchu.
Pushpa 2 was supposed to be released in cinemas on August 15 this year. Given the popularity that the franchise enjoys among movie buffs across the country, many big-budget movies decided to skip the Independence Day holiday to avoid a direct clash with Pushpa 2. However, a few months ago, the producers postponed the release to December 6, citing production reasons.
It's safe to assume that Vishnu Manchu won't make the mistake of releasing Kannappa in the same month as Pushpa 2. The Allu Arjun starrer will dominate the screens across the Telugu states, and it will be the top attraction even in the Hindi-speaking states. Kannappa will suffer hugely if it competes with Pushpa 2 for audiences' attention. It isn't good for business and also too much at stake for Vishnu Manchu.
Vishnu Manchu is hoping that Kannappa will give him a major break and elevate his career to the next level. It's the most expensive film in his career. Besides playing the lead role, he's also writing and producing it. It won't be wise to release Kannappa while Pushpa 2 is still on the billing.
If Vishnu Manchu, who is also the president of the Movie Artist Association (MAA), has zeroed in on December to release Kannappa, then he must be sure that his magnum opus won't face any major challenge at the box office. That hints at the possibility of a delay in the release of Pushpa 2.