Vishnu Manchu Explains New Zealand's Role in Kannappa: A Divine Canvas

Key Takeaways

Vishnu Manchu chose New Zealand for its extraordinary natural beauty.
The film 'Kannappa' is based on a historical character from the second century.
Filming locations were explored worldwide before deciding on New Zealand.
The movie aims to depict ancient India’s environment.
Top stars from the Indian film industry are part of the cast.

Chennai, Jan 18 (NationPress) Writer and actor Vishnu Manchu has revealed the rationale behind selecting New Zealand as the filming location for his upcoming historical epic 'Kannappa', which revolves around a devoted follower of Lord Shiva.

During a press conference on Saturday, the actor, who stars in the title role, was questioned about the decision to film in New Zealand instead of various locations in India.

In response, Vishnu Manchu stated, “This question has come up from many, including actor and director Prabhu Deva, who has choreographed three songs for this film.”

“I have delved deeply into the life of this character (Kannappa). The story is set between the second and third centuries. Consider how India was during that era. As humans, we tend to be quite destructive. We may pray to the divine, yet we often fail to respect God's creations. We have polluted waters, deforested areas, and harmed our environment.”

“When I set out to create Kannappa, my goal was to transport audiences back to that historical period. We explored numerous locations, including the northeast of India. In the US, we looked at the Redwood forests in California and Minnesota. We traveled to the outskirts of London, and Scotland, as well as the site where ‘Vikings’ was filmed in Ireland. I even visited Malaysia, where they shot ‘Marco Polo’, and then Australia.

“Ultimately, a friend recommended New Zealand. I traveled there in 2019, and I believe if there is a final masterpiece of God, it is New Zealand. The water, forests, and sky are extraordinary. It was then I decided this was the perfect place for 'Kannappa'. When you watch the film, you will understand that India, too, may have looked like this in the second century. Everything you see in the film is natural, except for Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The film is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and features prominent stars from the Indian film industry, including Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Prabhas, Preity Mukundhan, Akshay Kumar, Sarathkumar, and Kajal Aggarwal. The cinematography is handled by US cinematographer Sheldon Chau and Siddharth.