Vishnu Manchu Calls Kannappa His Most Ambitious Project Yet: 'My Lord Of The Rings'
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Vishnu Manchu calls Kannappa his version of The Lord of the Rings in IMDb's Behind the Scenes. He shares how the film, based on a real mythological tale, took a decade to develop.
Actor-producer Vishnu Manchu is gearing up to release one of his most ambitious projects yet — Kannappa, a mythological epic that boasts an ensemble cast featuring Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, and Manchu himself. In a recent conversation on IMDb's original series Behind The Scenes, Manchu opened up about the decade-long journey it took to bring Kannappa to life and how the story resonates deeply with him both spiritually and creatively.
'Kannappa is a true story which has happened in India," said Manchu. 'It's a story about an atheist who becomes Lord Shiva's greatest devotee. This is a journey of self-realisation, and I kind of resonated with the script when I heard it. Here I am, after 10 years of working on the script, bringing it to the world to see."
Tracing the film's genesis back to 2014, Manchu recalled how a writer first approached him with the idea. 'When he was narrating it, I was already imagining it on a larger-than-life scale," he shared. What followed was years of development—storyboarding, extensive pre-production, and world-building. 'Since then, my journey began," he said.
Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, known for his acclaimed work on the Mahabharat television series, Kannappa is being crafted with cinematic precision and devotional passion. Manchu praised Singh for bringing depth to the characters and refining their emotional arcs. 'The credit for the actors' performances goes to him," he said. 'When I struggled with portraying Kannappa's atheist phase, Mukesh gave me a brilliant metaphor. He said, 'Imagine you're a tiger. A lion may laze around, but a tiger is always alert.' That changed everything for me."
Living and breathing the film has left a lasting impact on Manchu, who believes Kannappa has brought a wave of positivity into his life. 'I believe this is all Lord Shiva's magic and his leela," he said. He also teased a major surprise: 'People who are well-versed in Indian epics are going to be blown away by Mr. Mohanlal's character and the episode involving him."
Drawing from Western fantasy while staying rooted in Indian mythology, Manchu described Kannappa as 'my version of The Lord of the Rings." With its rich mythology, star-studded cast, and deep personal resonance, Kannappa promises to be a mythological spectacle that blends spectacle, soul, and storytelling in equal measure.
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