Kannappa features Vishnu Manchu and is produced by his dad, the Tollywood icon Mohan Babu. The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Mohan Babu himself, Bollywood's Akshay Kumar, Mollywood's Mohanlal, Prabhas, Sarathkumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Preity Mukundhan, and Brahmanandam. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, this movie is gearing up for a big pan-India release on April 25, and it will be available in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, and English. 

Traveling from Hyderabad to New Zealand

In a recent chat with Hindustan Times, Vishnu Manchu opened up about his high-budget film, sharing that they filmed for a solid 90 days in New Zealand, bringing in eight containers of set materials all the way from Hyderabad. Managing a crew of 800 in a foreign land is no small feat! He picked New Zealand for its untouched beauty, believing it’s one of the last places on earth that remains as nature intended.

When asked if they wrapped up the shoot on schedule and within budget, Vishnu honestly said, “We did get everything done on time. If I could do it again, I’d probably save another 10-15% of everyone’s time, money, and energy. It’s been a costly learning experience for me, but thanks to the teamwork from everyone involved—from carpenters to set helpers—we pulled it off. We had around 600 crew members, plus 197 folks from Thailand on set. I’m super grateful to everyone who dedicated nearly five months to this project. At one point, we even had about 200 local Maori people helping out. The Maori culture resonates with ours; some of them feel like family to me now.”

Where Tolkien's world collides with Indian legends

The film tells the tale of Kannappa Nayannar, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva, whose life is deeply tied to the Srikalahasteeswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Legend has it that Kannappa was such a dedicated devotee that he offered both of his eyes to Lord Shiva. This story caught Vishnu's attention. "I've watched the Telugu version of the 1976 movie Bhakta Kannappa countless times, and when director Tanikella Bharani shared his vision with me in 2015, I was all in. We spent months crafting the script, but then he felt he wasn't the right fit to direct it since I wanted to go big with the production, while he preferred smaller projects. So, I ended up acquiring the film rights and took on the role of producer. I was inspired by Lord of The Rings (LOTR) and thought about how I could blend the story I loved growing up with that epic style."

Embracing a pan-Indian approach

Kannappa boasts an impressive cast, and the Telugu actor emphasizes that many joined the project out of deep respect for his father, the legendary Mohan Babu. “Everyone involved in this film did it out of love for my dad. I wish I could take credit for that, but I’d be lying! I’m really thankful for their support, and I hope to build such meaningful connections as I get older,” he shares with a smile. When asked if he can match his father's record of 600 films, Vishnu laughs, “There’s no way I can do that! Times have changed.”

“I’ve been wanting to collaborate with Sarathkumar uncle, who has watched me grow up, for years, and it finally happened. He was a tremendous help in many areas of the film. Prabhu Deva has choreographed three songs and worked on the climax too. I kept bugging Akshay Kumar until he finally said yes. He’s super nice, professional, and an amazing actor. I really admire his comic timing,” Vishnu adds. “Prabhas is a close friend, and he didn’t have to take part in Kannappa at this point in his career, but he jumped on board. I’m really thankful to him for that and feel indebted. What I appreciate most about him is his humility.”

Three generations of Kannappa

It's pretty cool that Vishnu's dad, Mohan Babu, is playing Mahadeva Shastri, and all four of his kids are involved in Kannappa too. This film really showcases three generations in one go! His son, Avram Baktha Manchu, takes on the role of young Thinnadu, while his twin daughters will appear in a song, and the third daughter has a little scene. “They’ve been around film sets since they were born, so it feels normal for them. I just wanted to make sure they were comfortable and got their shots right. I was focused on making sure the girls were dancing well, and I was really nervous about Avram since he had scenes with Sharath's uncle and everyone else. But he totally crushed it, nailing each scene in just one take,” the proud dad shares.

Vishnu admits he’s feeling a bit anxious as the release date gets closer. However, he’s confident that if the storytelling hits the mark, Kannappa will connect with the audience. “It really comes down to how the story is presented, and I believe my director has done an amazing job. Everyone involved – from the artists to the technicians – has put in a ton of effort, and I’m sure they’ll get the recognition they deserve,” Vishnu Manchu wraps up.

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