Mukesh Kumar Interview on Kannappa: Vishnu Manchu's performance will leave you speechless
Mukesh Kumar Singh, the man who made the famous Mahabharat series, has directed Vishnu Manchu's Kannappa. He speaks to us about handling big stars like Prabhas in the period drama.
Last Updated: 08.32 PM, Jun 24, 2025
Kannappa is one of the most awaited films in Telugu cinema. Featuring Vishnu Manchu in the lead role, the period drama has been directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh. He speaks to us about the prep, handling stars like Mohanlal and Prabhas, and how confident he is about the biggie. Here is the transcript.
Kannappa director Mukesh Kumar Singh Interview
How did you bag the offer to direct Kannappa?
Anup Singh Thakur, who worked in my Mahabharat series, called me and stated that Vishnu Manchu wanted to meet me. I met Vishnu and his dad and discussed the Mahabharat for over four hours. At the end of the conversation, Mohan Babu sir told Vishnu that I would direct Kannappa and was the perfect choice.
Did you have any idea who Kannappa was?
No, I was not aware of him at all. I went on a spiritual journey in Andhra and gathered a lot of information and came back to Vishnu. He was very impressed, and that is how the project was finalised, and I was locked as the director.
What kind of research went into the making?
I visited a lot of temples in Tirupati and Sri Kalahasti over and over again. I spoke to a lot of priests and understood who Kannappa was and what his history is. Vishnu had penned the story, and he had a lot of info already, which helped me direct the film.
You mainly worked for TV. Was it difficult to adapt to films?
When it comes to TV, there is lesser time for pre-production. But it did not take time for me to adjust, as I got enough support and a free hand to get hold of the script. As we did a lot of pre-production, the shoot was easy.
How did you manage to handle big stars like Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Babu, and Prabhas?
In fact, it was very easy to handle the big stars. They were thoroughly professional, came with a clear mind, and did what was required. I can say that handling these big stars was easier than handling the TV stars. Mohan Babu Garu gave me full support, and Prabhas was an absolute darling. These big stars will create a massive impact, and their cameos will thrill the fans big time.
Kannappa has been made earlier in Telugu. How different is this Kannappa from those old films?
Initially, when I came on board, even I had doubts about how I would pull off such a massive project, but Vishnu gave me a lot of support, and with the help of my team, I managed to pull things off. Kannappa is a new-age fantasy drama, and the last one hour will leave you speechless.
Tell us more about Vishnu Manchu’s performance in the film?
Kannappa is Vishnu Manchu’s dream project. He plays the title role, and everybody will be astonished to see his performance, especially in the last half an hour of the film. He will reach new heights with Kannappa in terms of performance and will leave you speechless.
What made you shoot Kannappa in New Zealand extensively?
Initially, we planned to shoot only 20% of the film in New Zealand, but as the locations were so real, we ended up shooting 80% of the film there. The Prabhas and Akshay Kumar episodes were shot in Hyderabad.
Tell us more about the production values, art department, and VFX part of the film?
Vishnu Manchu has spent crores on Kannappa. He did not leave a single stone unturned and decided that he would not compromise on the look and feel of the film. A lot of money has been spent on the production design, especially the various sets that we put up in Hyderabad. Be it the VFX, visuals, or background score, Kannappa will have an international look and feel.
How crucial is Prabhas’s role in Kannappa?
I can only say that Prabhas’s fans will not be disappointed one bit. His image, stature, and screen presence have been utilised properly. He comes in the second half and has a very key role in the film.
How confident are you about Kannappa's response in theatres?
We have screened the film to a lot of industry insiders, and all of them loved it. We also showed the film to a lot of priests, and they too did not find any objections. Kannappa is a real-life story, and we fictionalised it a lot to make it a proper viewing experience for the audience, and I am confident that the audience will love the film.
