Lead actors Vishnu Manchu, Prabhudeva, Sarath Kumar, Rockline Venkatesh, and director Mukesh Kumar Singh participated in the press meet.
One of the most awaited films in South India, “Kannappa,” produced by Mohan Babu and directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, with Vishnu Manchu in the lead, recently held its first press meet in Bengaluru. The event saw the participation of Vishnu Manchu, actor-choreographer Prabhudeva, actor Sarath Kumar, distributor for Karnataka Rockline Venkatesh, and director Mukesh Kumar Singh, who spoke about the film.
Speaking about the movie, lead actor Vishnu Manchu expressed his happiness at sharing the stage with such prominent personalities. He explained why the promotions of “Kannappa” started in Karnataka: “Although Kannappa’s story is centuries old, its popularity in this region owes a lot to Dr. Rajkumar. He first portrayed Kannappa in the movie ‘Bedara Kannappa,’ and later, Shivarajkumar also played the role in ‘Shiva Mechida Kannappa.’ In Telugu, Krishnam Raju starred in a film about Kannappa. Now, 50 years later, we have recreated Kannappa’s story in Telugu. While many know him as a devotee of Lord Shiva, this film explores why he was initially an atheist, his relationship with his father, and other lesser-known aspects. Another reason for starting promotions here is that this is the hometown of Ambarish Uncle, who was dear to our family. He would have been very proud of this moment.
“Our father, Mohan Babu, along with stars like Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Sarath Kumar, Devaraj, and Sadhu Kokila, have contributed to this project. Their involvement stems from their faith in our father. I’m grateful that Rockline Venkatesh is supporting us in Karnataka,” said Vishnu Manchu.
Director Mukesh Kumar Singh added, “We bow to Karnataka, the birthplace of legends like Anjaneya, Sri Krishnadevaraya, and Dr. Rajkumar. Dr. Rajkumar’s performance in ‘Bedara Kannappa’ was a huge inspiration for us. His portrayal is a benchmark for any actor and recreating it was a challenge. With the help of talented artists and technicians, we’ve crafted a film about Shiva’s devotee that is not only devotional but also a monumental mythological project. Vishnu Manchu and Dr. Mohan Babu made this possible. We have given it our best and are confident the audience will shower their love and support.”
Producer Rockline Venkatesh shared his emotional connection: “I’ve personally witnessed the friendship between Mohan Babu and Ambarish. They shared a deep bond and had great affection for me as well. Recently, I was invited to watch the movie, even though the RR wasn’t complete. I was speechless after seeing it—it’s that extraordinary. With top actors playing unexpected roles, this film will release pan-India on April 25, and I’m handling its distribution in Karnataka.”
Choreographer-actor Prabhudeva mentioned, “I haven’t acted in this film, but I choreographed three songs. It’s rare for me to work on this genre, but when Mohan Babu and Vishnu Manchu approached me, I couldn’t refuse. I’m thrilled to contribute to a devotional project like this.”
Actor Sarath Kumar, who plays a special role, stated, “Most of my scenes were shot in New Zealand, and the experience was unforgettable. ‘Kannappa’ will be a film that every Indian can be proud of.”
“Kannappa” is set to release on April 25 as a pan-India film.
