Mumbai: In an exclusive Interview with Actor and Producer Vishnu Manchu, where he talked about his latest film ‘Kannappa,’ and he discussed his dual role in the film, the challenges of bringing the story to life, and his experiences as both an actor and producer. He shared insights on balancing commercial success with staying true to the story's essence, the impact of digital platforms on traditional cinema, and his thoughts on nepotism in the industry. Vishnu also talked about his upcoming projects and his journey to the 12 holy Jyothirlingas.
00:04And my first question is, what inspired you to take both the role of an actor, producer
00:09as well as the writer in the film?
00:11See, initially I was approached to make, be the actor of this movie and then
00:18later I loved the movie so much and I started giving inputs and
00:22halfway through the inputs, the writer came to me and told me,
00:26see if the movie is made in 2 or 3 crores, I can make it like an art film but what you're thinking is larger than life
00:31and I don't think I'm the right guy to do it.
00:33You can take the script and you can develop it as much as you want, it's all yours.
00:37So my journey with Kannapa as a writer started in 2015 and simultaneously,
00:42you know, I was looking at different locations across the world to tell them the story of what I wanted.
00:48A place where will bring my story to life is what I was searching for.
00:54And simultaneously, my script was getting ready and I was doing a lot of homework for it because I knew
01:00at that point of time, I didn't have the market or the, you know, for the saleability of the movie,
01:06for the scale I was trying to, I was imagining.
01:09So and now, I was able to do it, you know, when we decided, okay, we'll just go for it,
01:15I had almost 80% of the work done.
01:17So we just went with it with lightning speed.
01:19Okay.
01:20Sir, talking about your character, sir, describe your character in Kannapa and what made the role stand out for you.
01:26See, Kannapa is, when I was writing for me, there's a lot of conflict within that person.
01:35He's taken a decision, there's no God.
01:38He's an atheist, he scolds God, he doesn't like rituals, none of that he likes.
01:44From being such an atheist to become God's greatest devotee, that arc is what something was very fascinating for me.
01:53You know, you have to convince, you know, yourself so blindly that all your life you said there was no God and all of a sudden you decided there is God.
02:03What made him say that? And it's all they say Shiva Leela.
02:08Yeah.
02:09And that's what I think happened to him and happened to me also while writing the script.
02:14Okay. As a producer and writer of the film, what was the most challenging aspect of bringing Kannapa to life?
02:20See, when I look back at it, it's funny, there's nothing challenging for me.
02:29My only thing was, I wanted the StarCast to say yes when I approached them and by the grace of God, everybody accepted.
02:36They believed in my dream and they all accepted and I'm grateful and thankful for each and every one of them,
02:43especially Prabhas and Mr. Mohan Lal, you know, I'm really grateful for them to have accepted and Mr. Akshay Kumar, Mr. Sarat Kumar,
02:54all these people, they're all legends in their own, you know, field and for them to accept and come forward and work on Kannapa,
03:03I think it's all, they all believed in the dream which I had and I'm grateful for it.
03:10Talking about Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, so how did you came to choose Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva?
03:16See, every generation actors have portrayed Lord Shiva and for this generation, I strongly believe,
03:24you think of Lord Shiva, it's going to be only Mr. Akshay Kumar's face which has to come into your mind,
03:29if you think of an actor who played Lord Shiva and that's why I was after him to accept this role
03:35and it took quite some time for me to make him do the role.
03:39What did the audience expect from Kannapa that said, apart from the previous films?
03:46Kannapa is a story of a Netas who becomes God's greatest devotee and it is based on true facts
03:52and also on the life of Kannapa. This was made many a times but this time,
03:57this is my version of the Kannapa and probably for this generation,
04:03they will know the story of Kannapa and Vayulinga and the Sri Kalahasti Temple.
04:09Okay. Talking, I have seen the teaser of the film and it shows something like Mel Gibson's film.
04:16So, were you inspired by somewhere?
04:18See, that's very beautiful you say that you are probably the third person to say,
04:22the first person who said that was Mr. Mohanlal.
04:24Okay.
04:25The other person who said that it looked like Braveheart was Mr. Prabhudeva
04:28and you are the other person who said when you looked at the visuals.
04:31Yeah.
04:32I wanted the story, I wanted to tell the story, you know, in a different fashion.
04:39But not exactly like I am not going out of history.
04:42Yeah.
04:43So, this happened somewhere around the second and third century.
04:46So, how was my country, how was Bharat, you know, in the second and third century?
04:51Yeah.
04:52Crystal clear waters, no pollution, beautiful greenery.
04:55That is what I, you know, I envisaged.
04:57And I went across the world to go see a location which, you know, I went even to Ireland, you know, where they shot the Vikings.
05:08And I went to Scotland, everywhere Australia.
05:12I went through three places in United States.
05:14I went to UK, outskirts of UK in the, you know, wilderness.
05:19Nothing came close to when I went and visited New Zealand.
05:23When I saw New Zealand, I said, okay, this is where Kannappa will be made.
05:27Okay.
05:28So, that's why we chose New Zealand and we filmed the entire film there.
05:32Sir, what is the one memorable behind the scene movement during the making of Kannappa that stand out to you?
05:40I had a scene with Mr. Mohan Lal and he is one of the greatest actors in the world for me.
05:50And when I performed a scene, I had to kneel down in front of him and I had to talk to him.
05:59After the cut was over, he took two steps forward and he said, son, you did a good job.
06:05Okay.
06:06And for me, it was like, wow.
06:09I, you know, for me, I grew up watching his films and I regard him as one of the greatest actors in the world.
06:14And he coming and appreciating my work was something I could never forget.
06:19And another sequence was when, there is a sequence when you will watch in the movie between Mr. Akshay Kumar and my character.
06:33Yeah.
06:34The younger version of my character, there is a scene towards the end of the film.
06:38Okay.
06:39That was, that was impromptu decision by Mr. Akshay Kumar.
06:43Okay.
06:44And that is one of the best moments for me in the movie.
06:47Okay.
06:48What is the scene like?
06:49Oh, I don't want to break the surprise.
06:51It's going to be a surprise when you watch the movie.
06:53That's the reason why we didn't put that sequence out in the song which we also put it out.
06:57Okay.
06:58You have released two volumes of comics on Kanappa and had said a third volume would be released soon.
07:07So, has the third volume been released?
07:08Yeah, it was released by Mr. Akshay Kumar in the recent press meet we had.
07:13Okay.
07:14You announced that you would be undertaking a journey to all the twelve holy places where there are Jyothilingas.
07:20So, you have completed three or five now.
07:23Five so far.
07:24Five.
07:25Now, how many have been, so if so it, holy place did you get any realization to it?
07:34See the reason, people go to Jyothilingas, you know and they say that when you go to,
07:40you know, some people stop at a Jyothilinga where they get their awakening and where they,
07:46where they feel that this is my calling.
07:50For me, I did have a divine experience, you know, among the five, you know, within the five Jyothilingas I travel.
07:59But I still have seven more to go.
08:01I am not going to stop because I felt, you know, I felt, I feel and I am living in immense positivity right now.
08:08There are pressures, there are work pressures, there are other pressures which I go to day to day life.
08:14You know, releasing a movie of this scale is not going to be, you know, a very easy walk.
08:20There is, there are a lot of hurdles.
08:22But right now in my space, you know, I feel there is a lot of positivity and I am like, I am living the moment right now and I am enjoying it.
08:29Sir, talking about the budget of the movie and especially you have shorted it in New Zealand.
08:35So, tell us something about that, what is specific budget of the movie because looking at the teaser,
08:41it seems that it is a huge budget film, sir.
08:44It is a huge budget film.
08:46And with three series superstars in it, sir.
08:48It is a huge budget film but I rather would like to talk about the scale and the beauty of the film rather than the budget of the film.
08:54As both an actor and producer, some argue that balancing both can compromise one of your roles.
09:01So, do you ever felt that being a producer affects your performance as an actor in Kanappa?
09:07Somehow, I never felt really that because of course, the main producer of the movie is my father.
09:12I was a showrunner for the movie.
09:14So, all decisions had to go through me at the end of the day.
09:17But I think I, you know, I rely heavily on my team and the team is what took the entire burden.
09:23For me, I was just on the creative decisions of it because I wrote the script and I was mounting the project.
09:28I was a showrunner.
09:29Because of that, it was quite easy for me.
09:32You know, I have been doing it for quite some time.
09:34But when you look at the movie, if you think I did a good job as an actor, I think I have passed.
09:40Okay.
09:41Sure, sir.
09:42Some critics argue that commercial cinema can overshadow the core message of a film.
09:46So, do you think Kanappa risks being its core message due to its larger-than-life treatment?
09:53I think some of those critics will be proven wrong with Kanappa.
09:57Okay.
09:58With the rise of digital platform, do you feel that traditional cinema is being left behind?
10:03See, going to a cinema is a experience.
10:07Going, sitting there, watching with a group of people.
10:09It's like going to a concert.
10:11So, now, it is, you know, when DVDs first came out, you know, people started saying people will not go to the theatre.
10:18That's the same thing.
10:20We are seeing the trend now.
10:21OTTs come out, people will not go to the theatre.
10:23But, of course, didn't people go and see Chava?
10:25What a rage people went.
10:27Didn't people go and see that horror film with Ms. Shraddha Kapoor?
10:32Mr. Shraddha Kapoor.
10:33Mr. Shri too.
10:34Mr. Shri too.
10:35With Mr. Rajkumar and Mr. Shraddha Kapoor.
10:37What a...people go for that.
10:38It's not like they'll go, you know, they're going to sit at home.
10:42But if there's a good film which they believe that it's going to be a great film, people will go to the theatre.
10:46Talking about Akshay Kumar playing Lord Shiva, it is always said that there should be some fasting being done if you play Lord Shiva.
10:53Is it like that or not?
10:55I don't think any of those criteria...some people believe it should be done.
11:02Yeah.
11:03It's up to how they look up to God and what is their relationship with God.
11:08Yeah.
11:09Each of us have a different relationship with God and the comfort zone you feel in communicating with God.
11:14Producing a film like Kanappa, do you think sometimes face pressure from the industry or other stakeholders to tone down certain aspects of the film?
11:23When you're true to the subject and when you're, you know, your heart is in the right place and you make a movie with devotion and faith,
11:33I don't think anybody will find a mistake in it.
11:36And one of the finest examples is Chava.
11:39Okay.
11:40What's next for you both as an actor and a producer?
11:43Oh, I'll be producing a lot of films but as an actor, I'm still, you know, I've parked everything aside until Kanappa releases.
