Dynamic Star Vishnu Manchu’s dream project Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by M Mohan Babu under AVA Entertainment and 24 Frames Factory is set for release on the 27th of this month. Meanwhile, Director Mukesh Kumar Singh interacted with the media to share some interesting aspects. Q: It is said that Mohan Babu binge-watched your Mahabharat series and recommended you to Vishnu Manchu for Kannappa. How did it all begin?  Yes, that’s true. It all started when director Eshwar Reddy called me and mentioned the Mahabharat series. I clarified that it wasn’t a solo effort—two other directors worked alongside me, and I didn't want to take full credit. I even gave him their contact details. Later, Anup Singh Thakur, who played Dhritarashtra in Mahabharat and also acted with Vishnu in Achari America Yatra, reached out and informed me that Vishnu Manchu wanted to speak to me. Vishnu called me soon after and invited me to Hyderabad. We met and spent 3–4 hours discussing the subject in depth. At that time, Mohan Babu garu wasn’t in town. Around 25–30 days later, I was told he had returned and wanted to meet me. I was taken to his house, and we spent an hour talking about Mahabharat. After our conversation, he immediately called Vishnu and said, “This is the man who will direct Kannappa.” Q: Since you worked on Mahabharat, how familiar were you with the story of Kannappa? Honestly, I wasn’t familiar with Kannappa initially. Vishnu narrated the story to me and expressed his desire to make it as grand as Mahabharat. Once I joined, I did extensive research on my own—I never rely solely on writers. I read articles, watched videos, and even visited temples in Tirupati and Sri Kalahasti—about 10+ times. I spent time with the priests there to truly understand the spiritual and cultural depth of the story. After this process, I shared my understanding with Vishnu. I was curious to see how he would embody the role and bring the soul of Kannappa to life. Q: What differences did you experience moving from TV to Cinema?  While I’m known for my TV work, I have also produced three English-language films. So, the cinema wasn’t new to me. In fact, many of the TV projects I directed were grander than some films. The main difference is in the preparation. TV productions are fast-paced and lack preparation time, whereas cinema allows ample time for planning. I officially joined Kannappa in January, and we started filming on October 4th—my birthday. Q: The film features multiple Pan-India stars. How did you manage that ensemble?  That was one of the most exciting aspects of the project. Surprisingly, I found managing television actors more challenging than film stars. The film stars—Mohan Babu, Vishnu, Prabhas, and others—are not just stars; they are disciplined and passionate professionals. Initially, there were challenges. I have a habit of exchanging detailed scene notes with actors, and once we established that rhythm, things fell into place. Mohan Babu garu, in particular, is a different kind of actor. He is extremely focused, sincere, and brings unmatched energy and aura to the screen. Q: Was the film shot only in Telugu?  The Kailasam portion was shot in Telugu. The scenes featuring Lord Shiva and Parvati were filmed in both Telugu and Hindi, and we dubbed the film into other languages for wider reach. Q: Did you watch earlier films based on Kannappa?  Yes, I watched all of them. They were all inspirational. At times, I was anxious about whether I could do justice to such a revered story. Vishnu also had doubts about matching the legacy of those iconic portrayals. But when you watch the final hour of our film, I believe you’ll be amazed by his performance. Q: Can you tell us about the work of the art department?  Our art director Chinna did thorough research. We also brought in technicians from Mumbai and Los Angeles. My assistant directors visited museums to study ancient weapons. Though we initially planned to shoot in New Zealand for just 20 days, the locations were so perfect that we ended up shooting most of the film there. 80% of the film was shot on real locations, while Akshay Kumar and Prabhas' scenes were filmed in India. Budget was never a constraint—Vishnu ensured we had everything needed. Q: What is the scope of Prabhas’s role in the film?  Every character in Kannappa has depth and impact. There are no filler roles. Be it Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, or Prabhas—each character adds momentum and meaning to the story. Prabhas fans will not be disappointed. His screen time is significant and well-utilized. After watching the film, Mohan Babu garu hugged me. That was the biggest compliment. Even a few outsiders who previewed the film gave extremely positive feedback. Q: The censor board suggested 13 cuts. What’s your take on it?  The cuts were suggested so the film could receive a U or U/A certification. It has some intense action sequences. We wanted an U13 or U rating, so we made the necessary changes. Q: How much of the story is fictionalized?  The original story of Kannappa, as found in Periya Puranam, Bhagavata Purana, and Sri Kalahasti Shapatham, is just about one and a half pages long. We used that as a foundation and expanded on it creatively. To make a 2+ hour film, we had to take cinematic liberties. However, we remained true to the soul and essence of the story. The structure from the first scene to the last has a consistent emotional and narrative flow.   Q: Who supported you in writing the dialogues?  I worked with Telugu-speaking assistant directors and translated everything myself. Vishnu, Mohan Babu, and a few writers also contributed to fine-tuning the dialogues. Q: What was the response from Sri Kalahasti priests after watching the film?  We screened the film for them, as they are the most authentic voices to evaluate it. Their reaction was heartening. The first thing they asked was, "When are you making Part 2?" They told us that not a single word needed to be changed. That validation was priceless. Q: How did you ensure the story resonated with modern audiences?  First, I must clarify: this is not a mythological film. It is historical. Me and Vishnu discussed this in detail. Some believe Kannappa was a tribal. Others think he was the reincarnation of Arjuna. That’s why there are 20 versions of his story. At its core, he was the man who donated his eyes—an act of ultimate devotion. That truth needed to reach today’s generation.   Q: Are you working on a Mahabharata film next?  Yes, I'm planning a cinematic adaptation of Mahabharata. It’s an open subject, and anyone can tell it their way. I have immense respect for S.S. Rajamouli, who is also working on a version. After Satyajit Ray, it is Rajamouli who has truly elevated Indian cinema on the global stage. I’ve already told the story on television, but the film offers a much wider canvas. Q: What’s your opinion on using graphics in movies today?  Graphics are evolving fast, but they must be used wisely. Today, people often over-rely on VFX. The key is to mix reality with graphics—to enhance, not replace, the real experience. Q: A final word on Mohan Babu’s role in the film?  Mohan Babu garu plays a role that’s unlike anything seen before in other versions of Kannappa. He’s a phenomenal actor. He’s also playing the antagonist in Nani’s upcoming film. His range and intensity will be a treat for audiences.

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Pankaj Jha, Sunita Rajwar Crew:  Created by Deepak Kumar Mishra, Chandan Kumar, Arunabh Kumar Written by Chandan Kumar Music by Anurag Saikia Cinematography by Amitabha Singh Editing by Amit Kulkarni Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, Akshat Vijaywargiya Produced by Arunabh Kumar Available on Amazon Prime Video No: of Episodes: 08 Season(s): 04 Release Date: 24th June 2025 Genre: Comedy, Rural Drama, Political Drama   Panchayat is one of the most popular Indian Web Series and it became such a huge blockbuster that many started asking for extra seasons immediately after the first one. The series showcased the innocence of rural India while also showcasing their backwardness, loveable nature and simplicity. The humor also authentically imbibes into the premise and now, the series entered Season 4. Let's discuss about it in detail.    Plot:  Sachiv Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) and Pradhan ji (Raghubir Yadav) get into a legal battle with MLA CK Singh (Pankaj Jha). Both file cases of attempted murder on the other. Abhishek is afraid if the case will become a huge obstacle for his MBA dreams. He continues to prepare for his CAT exam and his relationship with Rinki (Sanvikaa) grows further.  Meanwhile, Pradhan's wife Manju Devi (Neena Gupta) and Bhushan Kumar (Durgesh Kumar)'s wife Kranti Devi (Sunita Rajwar) fail nominations for Panchayat elections from Phulera. Their campaign grows intense with one party trying to dominate another. With the help of MLA, Bhushan keeps troubling them and the elections become a war. What happens next, watch the series to know more.    Analysis:  The series has become popular with such humor that instantly become meme material and popular. The innocence of the characters has been contagious and it became hard to not watch it for as many seasons as they bring with these characters. But the season 4 is a big dip in writing with each and every episode revolving around politics. While the village politics are interesting, the comic sequences are almost absent.  While on paper, the moments look strong, the kind of moving and gripping narrative that hit them hard in seasons 1 and 2 is absent. Few moments try to replicate such heart touching scenes from earlier seasons but they lack gravity and depth of those. There is a new character introduced but it doesn't really pay off to such a level like in the previous ones too. It feels like the entire season 4 is a set up and build up for the next season 5th. The production values and narrative tries to retain the likeability and it is appreciable. But the writing undermines all the efforts. Cinematography is nice and editing is good too. Songs doesn't really have the same weight like they did in previous seasons.  Performances by Jitendra Kumar, Chandan Roy, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik did a great job once again. They gave relatable performances and Sanvikaa is great in the final episode too. But the romance portions between Jitendra and Sanvikaa needed better writing and execution. Overall, this is an underwhelming season with respect to previous seasons.  Bottomline:  Underwhelming season to Panchayat levels and let's hope makers improve for the next one.  Rating: 2.5/5  Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them.