Prabhas' presence is powerful and memorable: Kannappa Director Mukesh

Director Mukesh Kumar Singh recently shared his emotional journey behind directing Kannappa, a dream project of actor Vishnu Manchu and produced by M. Mohan Babu under AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory. Set for release on June 27, Kannappa is not just a mythological tale it’s a passion-driven tribute to faith and devotion.

When asked about how the journey began, Mukesh said, “It all started when Eshwar Reddy contacted me regarding Mahabharat. I had co-directed it and didn’t want to take full credit. Later, Anup Singh Thakur, who played Dhritarashtra in the series, informed me that Vishnu Manchu was interested in meeting me. After a deep discussion in Hyderabad, we connected.”

He added, “Mohan Babu garu was not in town then. But weeks later, I met him, and we spoke for an hour about Mahabharat. After our talk, he immediately called Vishnu and said, ‘This is the man who will direct Kannappa.’ That trust meant everything to me.”

When asked if he knew the story beforehand, Mukesh admitted, “I didn’t know much about Kannappa. But Vishnu explained his vision. I then began researching deeply—reading, visiting temples in Tirupati and Sri Kalahasti over ten times, and interacting with priests. Only then did I begin to understand the soul of the story.”

Talking about transitioning from television to film, he said, “Though known for TV, I’ve worked on English films too. In TV, there’s little prep time, but cinema gives space for planning. I officially joined Kannappa in January, and we began shooting on my birthday, October 4.”

The film has an impressive cast. “Handling big film stars like Mohan Babu, Vishnu, Prabhas, and Akshay Kumar was actually smoother than working with TV actors. They are professional, disciplined, and focused.”

On shooting locations, he shared, “Though we planned just 20 days in New Zealand, we shot most of the film there due to perfect locations. 80% was shot on real sites. Budget was never a constraint Vishnu made sure we had everything.”

Asked about Prabhas’ role, he said, “Every character has depth. There are no fillers. Prabhas’ presence is powerful and memorable. After watching the film, Mohan Babu garu hugged me that was my biggest reward.”

When questioned about fictional elements, Mukesh clarified, “The original Kannappa story in ancient texts is just 1.5 pages. To make a full film, we expanded it, but stayed true to its soul. The emotional thread is strong from start to end.”

Regarding the censor board’s suggested 13 cuts, he said, “We wanted a U or U/A rating, so we made those edits. The intensity remains intact.”

He also shared how the Sri Kalahasti priests responded. “They said, ‘When is Part 2 coming?’ and that not a single word needed change. That feedback is priceless.”

On modern relevance, Mukesh said, “Kannappa gave his eyes for God—that truth, that devotion, is eternal. We wanted today's generation to connect with that spirit.”

Ending the chat, he smiled and said, “Mohan Babu garu’s role in this film is unlike anything before. He’s a powerhouse, and working with him was a blessing.”