Actor-writer Vishnu Manchu harbors ambitious plans for the grand-scale Indian epic “Kannappa.”
The movie delves into the folklore of Kannappa, an atheist hunter who transformed into a devotee of the Hindu god Shiva, going to extreme lengths by plucking out his own eyes as an act of profound devotion. This narrative was previously brought to the screen in Kannada and Telugu as “Bedara Kannappa” and “Kalahasti Mahatyam” in 1954, both featuring Rajkumar; in Hindi as “Shiv Bhakta” (1955), starring Shahu Modak; in Telugu once more as “Bhakta Kannappa” (1976), starring Krishnam Raju; and in Kannada again as “Shiva Mecchida Kannappa” (1988), starring Rajkumar, Shiva Rajkumar, and Puneeth Rajkumar.
In the latest rendition, Manchu takes on the titular role, having penned the story himself. The film is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, renowned for his television adaptations of Indian epics “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata.” The cast includes Telugu film industry heavyweights Prabhas (of the Baahubali franchise) and Mohan Babu (“Shaakuntalam”), with Kannada industry megastar Shiva Rajkumar (“Ghost”) and Malayalam-language industry superstar Mohanlal (“Jailer”) also playing significant roles. However, Manchu refrains from disclosing the nature of their roles at this time.
Manchu acknowledges that the core story of Kannappa is succinct and well-known to South Indian audiences. He shares, “They all know this legend and they all know what happens in the end – when you’re coming into a theater to see a movie, the biggest surprise element should be the climax, but for us, when the audience is coming into the theater, they already know what the end is going to be. So, it opened up a whole new canvas for me to paint and fill up the first half.” Manchu emphasizes the need to explore Kannappa’s life before his devotion, prompting the decision to transport the narrative to a second-century setting. He expresses excitement about the visual and narrative possibilities this shift offers.
The film is currently in production across various picturesque locations in New Zealand, chosen for its pristine landscapes. Manchu, who explored multiple countries, fell in love with New Zealand during his 2019 visit, describing it as “God’s last beautiful painting which is still intact.” He envisions the film’s world akin to Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” series, aiming to create visuals comparable to the cinematic masterpiece. Despite not aspiring to surpass “Lord of the Rings,” Manchu hopes the visuals will stand out as some of the best in recent Indian cinema.
“Kannappa” underwent pre-visualization, and the VFX work spans facilities in India, the U.K., and Singapore. It marks a departure from Manchu’s usual domain of action comedies. He highlights the debates and discussions surrounding Kannappa’s characterization, pondering whether he is a hero or an antihero. The writing team, including Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, Eshwar Reddy, Nageshwar Reddy, and Thota Prasad, played a pivotal role in shaping the character.
With a global audience in mind, Manchu draws inspiration from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” emphasizing that a well-crafted film rooted in cultural values can gain international recognition. Produced by 24 Frames Factory and AVA Entertainment, “Kannappa” is set for a worldwide release in the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi languages in the third quarter of 2024.
The filmmakers have unveiled the first look poster for “Kannappa.”
