Riding high on the success of the epic devotional film Kannappa, director Mukesh Kumar Singh opened up about how the project came to him—and attributes the entire journey to divine intervention. In an emotional and candid reflection, Singh called the opportunity a miracle and credited Lord Shiva for bringing the film into his life.
“When asked about bagging the mega movie,” Singh said, “I think it's all Lord Shiva’s doing. If I remember correctly, in 2015, Vishnu Manchu and Mohan Babu had planned on doing Kannappa. And on 1st January 2015, I happened to be visiting the Shrikalahasti Temple, on which this story is based. I think, at that time, the Lord decided He would make me direct this film. I believe it’s a miracle—otherwise, there is no direct connection between me and this movie.”
Singh also spoke about how the project wasn’t originally in his orbit, revealing that Vishnu Manchu was initially looking at international talent for the director’s chair. “Vishnu’s last couple of films didn’t do well, and he wasn’t ready to work with big directors—that’s what he told me. For this film, he was even considering some Hollywood directors, given the scale and canvas of the story. He had even spoken to a couple of them,” he recalled.
The turning point came during the COVID-19 lockdown. “Mohan Babu was watching Mahabharata, as it’s a popular saga in South India,” Singh said, referring to the hit mythological TV series he had co-directed. “After watching it, he wanted to know who directed it. Their team reached out to me. I told them that apart from me, two other people co-directed the series. Some other director also called me, and we spoke, and that was it.”
What happened next was completely unexpected. “A few days later, Anoop Singh Thakur, who played Dhritarashtra in the series and had worked with Vishnu Manchu in Achari America Yatra, told me that Vishnu wanted to talk to me. Soon, I got a call from Vishnu, and we spoke. He asked me to visit Hyderabad, and we discussed the film. Until then, I had no idea what the movie was about or what the subject even was.”
Singh’s final selection happened after an in-person meeting with industry veteran Mohan Babu. “I was called again to meet Mohan Babu, who had just returned from abroad. I went to his house, and we spoke at length about characters, scenes, and cinema in general. Then he called Vishnu and confirmed right there that I would direct the movie. It is a matter of great honor for me—that someone so senior spoke to me for half an hour and entrusted me with such a huge project. I will always be grateful to him for trusting me,” he concluded.
Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and written by Vishnu Manchu, is based on the revered legend of Kannappa, a tribal warrior who transforms from an atheist into one of Lord Shiva’s most ardent devotees. Produced by Mohan Babu, the film stars Vishnu Manchu, along with a stellar ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, and Preity Mukundhan.
Set against a grand mythological backdrop, Kannappa is not just a cinematic spectacle—it is, as Singh describes it, a journey of faith, fate, and divine orchestration.
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