The movie is based on the legend of the devotee of Lord Shiva, Kannappa Nayanar, a hunter who became a revered saint through his devotion. When he saw that Shiva Linga bleeding from its eyes, he sacrificed his own eyes to heal the deity. Moved by his selfless act, Lord Shiva restored Kannappa’s eyes and granted him liberation. Meanwhile, reportedly, the movie is made on a budget of Rs 200 crore.
Kannappa shooting location
Vishnu Manchu, Prabhas and Akshay Kumar-starrer Kannappa has been primarily shot in New Zealand. The film was filmed in Wānaka, a town in the South Island, New Zealand, which is known for its crystal-clear waters, snow-capped mountains, and outdoor scenery. Another place in Otago where the movie has been shot is Glenorchy, known for sweeping valleys and dramatic horizons, which create stunning backdrops for the mythological movie. The film has also been shot in Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, known for its lush forests and deep-rooted culture. Another place where the mythological drama has been shot is Auckland, known as the City of Sails. Additionally, the movie has been filmed in Christchurch, Canterbury, which offers a perfect cinematic landscape.
Why did Vishnu Manchu choose New Zealand as the shooting location?
Speaking at a press meet, Vishnu Manchu earlier opened up about why he chose New Zealand as the shooting location for the movie. He said, “I have read a lot about this character (Kannappa). This is a story that takes place between the second and the third centuries. How was India then? As human beings, we are very destructive. Although we pray to God, we don’t respect God’s creations. We never respect nature. We have polluted waters, cut forests and polluted the environment.”
He added, “When I wanted to make Kannappa, I wanted to take audiences back to that time period. So, when we began hunting for locations, we visited a number of places. In India, we scouted the northeast. Then, in the US, we looked at the Redwood forests in California and in Minnesota. We visited London’s outskirts, Scotland, and the place where they shot Vikings in Ireland. I went to Malaysia, where they shot Marco Polo and then went to Australia.”
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“Finally, a friend suggested New Zealand. So, I went to New Zealand in 2019. If there is a last painting of God, that is New Zealand. The water, the forests, the sky, it is phenomenal. That is when I decided that this is where ‘Kannappa’ needs to be shot. So, when you watch the film, you will know that India too would have been like this in the second century. Whatever you see in the film, except for Kailasa, which is the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, everything else is natural,” he said.