Exclusive - Vishnu Manchu: The budget of Kannappa is so high, I need the star power of Prabhas, Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar to....

Mohan Babu, a legendary figure in his own right, made the initial suggestion for Kannappa. Vishnu has turned this project into a deeply personal undertaking.

The star cast for a film of this magnitude is truly epic. Kannappa features not only Vishnu himself but also pan-India powerhouses Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Akshay Kumar.

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“When I decided to make the movie, I approached all of them. Mr. Akshay Kumar didn’t know me personally—he had only heard of my father. But he graciously accepted. Mohanlal sir and Prabhas are family, so they came on board without hesitation," he said.

What’s more remarkable, “Mr. Mohanlal and Prabhas didn’t even charge. So far, they haven’t entertained the concept of money,” he reveals. “Once the movie is complete, it’s my responsibility to hand them a cheque, because they deserve it.”

Working with the Icons

Vishnu futher said that working with these cinematic giants was a deeply personal and memorable experience.

“My red-letter day was when I worked with Mr. Mohanlal. I’ve been a huge fan since childhood. My father remade many of his films. We bonded deeply on set," he says with a childlike excitement.

“Prabhas is like my brother, we always banter, always talk. Working with him was special too. And Akshay Kumar was a sweetheart," he says.

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A Pan-India Film with a Pan-Indian Heart

Even though Kannappa is rooted in Telugu culture, Vishnu is confident about the movie and says he sees it as a film for all Indians. “We’ve never thought of a region-specific audience. We’re Indians first. Emotions are the same across states. A good film is a good film—language doesn’t matter."

With changing times, he sees Indian audiences embracing this approach. "Today, people don’t care what language a movie is in, as long as it’s well made and well marketed. They’ll watch it like it’s a straight Hindi film. I already see myself in Bollywood with Kannappa," he added.

Excerpts from the exclusive conversation:

Vishnu Manchu : It randomly happened in 2020 when my father called me and he said, why are you holding on to Kannappa for so long? I just watched, I told him, I need to find a director. I don't know. He said, I just finished watching the Mahabharata series, which came out in 2014. He had binge watched. And he said, director, whoever did a great job, I think you should approach him to do Kannappa. And then I approached him in two, three days and we met and then immediately we agreed to do the movie.

Who was Kannappa

Vishnu: Kannappa is history, he actually was there during the second, third century. Even the village where he was born, Uduppura is recognised by ASI and people still go there to Kannappa's temple and (2:05) everybody believed that that's where he was born, raised.

And from there, he moved on to Srikalahasthi, where the temple is situated, where now he's got his own temple. It's a very fascinating story for me to do it. So that's the reason why, you know, a tribal, you know, prince, you know, who was an atheist who became God's devotee, what was his journey? So that was what was very interesting for me. And that's why I chose his subject.

Working with Prabhas, Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar 

Vishnu: When I decided to make the movie, I approached all of them and they were gracious enough to really accept it. Mr. Akshay Kumar, he didn't know, he had heard of my father, but he doesn't know me. He was gracious enough to accept it also. And of course, Mohanar and Prabhas, they are family to me and that's why I approached them.

Prabhas, Mohanlal didn't charge any fees

Vishnu: Mr. Mohanar and Prabhas didn't charge any money. So far, they haven't even entertained the concept of money. But once the movie is done, it would be my responsibility to go hand them a cheque which, you know, is well deserved for them.

Response to Kannappa 

It's a fantastic response. What I'm getting, I'm really nervous and anxious for—not anxious, but not nervous, but anxious because I want everybody to see and want to hear what they say about the movie.

Catering to Pan India audience 

Vishnu: So far, we have never thought of any particular or region-specific audience and altered any script. We are Indians at the end of the day. And we all have one taste, which is the Indian taste. Yes, the slangs might be different, but the emotions are the same. So as long as you make a movie, there can be only two movies, you know, a good movie and a bad movie. So I think finally because of the distribution explosion either through OTTs or YouTube or through theaters, everybody is accepting that and it's good.

Not everybody is going to get a pan-India release; I was lucky to get one.

Will this movie get a boost because of Prabhas and Akshay?

100% with the budget of this, you know, so high, I need the star power of Prabhas, Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar to boost the fortunes of the film for the opening months and come to the theater; the content will speak. But to create the interest among the audience for a larger opening, I need to have the star watch.

Working with Mohanlal was a Red Letter Day 

Amazing. But my red-letter day is the day when I worked with Mr. Mohanlal because as a child, I was, you know, I've been a huge fan of his and my father also remade many of his films. So, you know, we spent a very long time bonding and I'm a huge admirer of his work. Prabhas is my brother; it's like we always banter, we always talk. So, it was special working with him. But I'm grateful to Prabhas for having accepted to do this role.

Akshay Kumar is humble 

Vishnu: He's no different from how we guys function back there in Hyderabad. And it was nice and wonderful working. He's a superstar. And for him to be humble is a pleasant surprise for all of us. Because we've had a lot of stories of people from Indian actors who throw a lot of tantrums. Well, we've seen a lot of heroing through tantrums. But Akshay Kumar is Akshay Kumar, the superstar. He was a sweetheart.

Father and legendary actor Mohanbabu's response 

You know, the only thing he did before the first shot was that he hugged me and he said, "The whole world will have to speak about Kanappa." And also give your heart a heartful and don't think about anything else.

I would like to say that I would like to take Indian cinema to the global stage and I hope this effort of mine will definitely take it forward.

Reflecting on career choices in the past 

Vishnu: I wish I had done better. I hope I didn't make some of the silly decisions I made. Almost everything; it will be a long list.

Vishnu says his family especially his wife and kids haven't watched the movie yet. "I'm excited for them to watch the movie because they'll get to watch the movie on the 23rd after the censor and everything. We are racing against time to complete the film. I would want them to watch it."

Difference in movies being released earlier 

Vishnu: We've got audiences who are actually okay to watch a movie if it reaches them with proper marketing. They don't care which language it comes from. As long as it is made properly and presented properly to them with the proper lip sync and everything. I think they're going to look at it like a straight Hindi film. I'm already in Bollywood with Kanappa. I see myself like that.

Before wrapping up the conversation, we asked Vishnu to describe Kannappa in 3 words and he said: Devotion, passion and a great opportunity.

Kannappa directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Vishnu Manchu is going to release worldwide on June 27. The film stars Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar.