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Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'It's funny when people talk only about South industries being rooted': Vishnu Manchu says Bollywood films are also rooted, takes 'Stree 2' and Chaaava as examples
Actor Vishnu Manchu has recently addressed the ongoing discussion about South Indian films staying rooted in culture and values, while Hindi films are often criticised for lacking such realism. Vishnu called for a more inclusive perspective that acknowledges the strength of all film industries, including Bollywood. In a recent conversation with India Today, Manchu addressed the growing perception that only South Indian films remain true to their cultural roots. Vishnu Manchu says Hindi films are also deeply rooted "It's very funny when people talk only about the four South industries being rooted. Malayalam has always been rooted — they've been far ahead in storytelling. Tamil cinema too has very native, rooted subjects. Telugu and Kannada industries have that as well, but they tend to be more glamorous in their presentation," he said. Manchu cautioned against diminishing the efforts and achievements of Hindi films in this space. He remarked, "People forget that even Hindi cinema has delivered some deeply rooted films that have done phenomenally well. One of the films is Stree 2, and then Chhaava, which have done phenomenally well," he stated. The 'Mosagallu' actor further mentioned 'PK', 'Dangal', and 'Munnabhai MBBS' as incredible Bollywood films that are deeply rooted in culture. Vishnu Manchu On 'Kannappa': Prabhas, Mohanlal & Akshay Join Forces | South vs North Debate 'Stale'? Criticism from media He also took a moment to critique the recurring narrative that Bollywood is in decline, stating that this view often overshadows the industry's successes. In his opinion, the Hindi media has been harsh towards Bollywood and emphasised that the industry is not performing as poorly as people claim. He admitted that there is a dull phase, but people forget to celebrate the glorious releases and instead constantly harp on what didn't work. Manchu further explained that the nature of the film business is unpredictable across regions and not just limited to one industry. He highlighted that all film industries — including Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi — face similar challenges, with only 15–20% of films succeeding globally. The combined success of South films may appear larger, but each industry struggles individually. About Kannappa Vishnu Manchu is currently gearing up for the release of 'Kannappa', which is slated to hit theatres on June 27. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Kannappa actor Vishnu Manchu: Hindi films are rooted too, not just South cinema
Amid the ongoing debate around rooted storytelling in Indian cinema, actor-producer Vishnu Manchu has offered a balanced take, arguing that while South Indian industries deserve praise, Hindi cinema's contributions shouldn't be an exclusive conversation with India Today, the 'Kannappa' star said, 'You know, it's very funny when people talk only about the four South industries being rooted. Malayalam has always been rooted — they've been far ahead in storytelling. Tamil cinema too has very native, rooted subjects. Telugu and Kannada industries have that as well, but they tend to be more glamorous in their presentation.'advertisementHe acknowledged the recent buzz around South Indian films, especially in terms of storytelling authenticity, but warned against reducing the impact of Hindi films that have done equally well in that space. Manchu said, 'People forget that even Hindi cinema has delivered some deeply rooted films that have done phenomenally well. One of the films is 'Stree 2', and then 'Chhaava', which have done phenomenally well. And if you look back, 'PK', 'Dangal', 'Munnabhai MBBS' — those are incredible films, and they're as rooted as they come,' he also criticised the tendency to repeatedly highlight Bollywood's failures while ignoring its success stories. 'I think the Hindi media has been a little too harsh on its own industry. It's not performing as badly as people claim. Yes, we're going through a dull period, but we should celebrate the successes and the great movies we've made instead of constantly harping on what didn't work," he Manchu pointed out that no film industry is immune to failure. 'The success ratio in entertainment, across the globe, is 15–20%. Telugu is no different, Tamil is no different, and Hindi is no different. Just because 20% of Telugu films are working, and you're also seeing the top 20% of Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada — together, that success looks huge. But if you look at each industry in isolation, we're all facing the same challenges.'Vishnu Manchu is currently busy promoting his upcoming 'Kannappa', which will hit cinemas on June 27. You May Also Like
India Today
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Wasn't easy to reach Akshay Kumar: Vishnu Manchu on star-studded Kannappa casting
Actor-filmmaker Vishnu Manchu has opened up about the emotional and creative journey behind assembling an ensemble of stars for his upcoming film 'Kannappa', a deeply personal project that pays tribute to his father, veteran actor Mohan an exclusive conversation with India Today, Manchu revealed how his personal connections helped bring big names on board, except for one. 'Everybody other than Mr Akshay Kumar, I had a personal rapport with,' he said. 'So, to reach out to Mr Akshay Kumar was initially a little difficult. But once we reached out to him, and he was convinced with the idea we had, he just said, 'Okay, let's do it. It was an absolute pleasure working with him."advertisementWhen asked how he managed to bring the stellar cast - Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal - he shared, 'I think they all did it out of the love and respect they had for my father. And I'm grateful to them for having accepted to do this." While many have contributed in front of the camera, Manchu highlighted the support of Prabhudeva behind the scenes. 'Another unsung person on this entire journey, who's been there and supported me very strongly, is Prabhudheva. He's been there right from day one and has been extremely supportive behind the screen, pushing boundaries for me to achieve things better.'Interestingly, one of the most challenging aspects wasn't casting a Bollywood superstar, but convincing his own father to take on a pivotal role - Mahadeva did take a little time for me to convince my father because he wasn't too keen on doing the role. The previous portrayal of this character in earlier films was very dicey - a priest who robs jewels from the temple and gives them to his concubine,' Manchu explained, adding, 'Dad was like, 'I don't want to be a priest who is very negative.''He added, 'I told him, 'That's not the way the character is going to be.' For me, the inspiration for Mahadeva Shastri is the sage Vishwamitra. That's how I designed it.'Eventually, Mohan Babu agreed. 'After we finished everything and made my dad hear it, he readily accepted it,' Vishnu added with a smile.'Kannappa' is all set to release on June Watch
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Kannappa' hard drive containing crucial movie VFX visuals gets "stolen" a month before release
An executive producer of the highly anticipated 'Kannappa' movie filed a complaint at the Film Nagar police station in Hyderabad, alleging the theft of a hard disk containing the movie's VFX visuals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kannappa is a mythological epic that narrates the story of the legendary devotee of Lord Shiva. It stars Manchu in the lead role. The officials at the Film Nagar police station have filed the case after Kannappa's producer alleged theft of a hard disk by unknown individuals. As per an Inspector at the Film Nagar police station, the unknown individuals allegedly entered the office and stole a hard disk containing VFX visuals of the Kannappa movie. "Yesterday, we received a complaint from Reddy, executive producer, alleging that unknown persons entered the office and stole a hard disk containing VFX visuals of the Kannappa movie. We have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter," said an Inspector of Film Nagar police station. Kannappa has been creating quite a buzz in the entertainment industry with it's stunning visuals and ensemble cast as shown in the teaser The South actor Vishnu Manchu takes center stage as Thinnadu, a fearless warrior who transforms into Lord Shiva's ultimate devotee. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar appears in the role of Lord Shiva, adding his divine presence to the tale. Mohanlal plays Kirata, while Prabhas makes a memorable entry as Rudra. The teaser also features brief yet impactful glimpses of and Preity Mukhundhan, further adding to the star power. With a thunderous background score, breathtaking cinematography, and a gripping narrative, 'Kannappa' looks set to be a visual masterpiece. The film seamlessly combines powerful action sequences with emotional beats, making it a cinematic spectacle that promises to captivate audiences worldwide. The film is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh.
