The upcoming mythological action drama Kannappa is once again in the news, not for its release date but for something more serious this time. The makers of the star-studded Telugu movie have found themselves in trouble after a hard drive containing pivotal content was reported to be stolen. This has left fans worried, especially those eagerly waiting to see actors Vishnu Manchu, Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, and Mohanlal on the big screen. Amid the rumours, the Kannappa team issued an official statement clarifying the matter.

The production house behind Kannappa, 24 Frames Factory, shared the statement on its X with full details on the matter. The post read, "In response to circulating rumours and speculation, 24 Frames Factory is issuing this official statement to bring clarity to the situation. A hard drive containing a pivotal action sequence between two lead characters of Kannappa, along with critical VFX work, was stolen during transit. The drive was shipped from Hive Studios, Mumbai, and intended to be delivered to our official production office. Shockingly, the package was unlawfully intercepted and signed for by an individual named Mr. Raghu, who acted under the instructions of a woman named Charita. Neither of them are employees, representatives, or associates of 24 Frames Factory. Their act constitutes impersonation and theft."

The production house also informed that a police complaint was formally filed nearly four weeks ago and the investigating authorities have been fully briefed on the identity of those behind this theft.

“It is no secret who orchestrated this attempt—both we and law enforcement are well aware of the forces at play. The perpetrator’s identity is known, and the motive is clear. More disturbingly, credible intelligence has recently emerged that these individuals, under guidance from the same source, are planning to leak over 90 minutes of unreleased footage online in a desperate attempt to derail the release of Kannappa. In response, the Executive Producer has formally escalated the matter to Cyber Crime authorities to take swift and firm action," the note read. 

The team also urged everyone not to entertain or circulate any pirated content if it emerges and asked them to stand by the artists and technicians who have poured years of effort into this magnum opus.

About Kannappa: The Telugu movie, based on the legendary tale of Bhakta Kannappa, the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva, stars Vishnu Manchu in the central role of Thinnadu. Joining him are Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda, and Rahul Madhav in pivotal roles. The movie is made even more divine with special appearances from actors including Akshay Kumar, Mohanlal, Prabhas, and Kajal Aggarwal. The movie has faced several delays, leaving fans wondering whether it will be released on the slated date of June 27.

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