Manchu Vishnu’s upcoming mythological epic Kannappa is facing pre-release hurdles, with objections raised over allegedly objectionable content. Members of the Brahmin community, particularly the Brahmana Chaitanya Vedika, have flagged 13 scenes in the film, claiming they demean Brahmins and promote inappropriate perspectives.
In response to the complaints, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) formed an 11-member committee to review the contentious sequences. The committee reportedly concurred with the objections and has recommended the removal of the 13 scenes. The CBFC has indicated that certification will only be granted after the filmmakers remove the scenes and present a revised version for approval.
This development has cast uncertainty over the film’s scheduled June 27 release. Industry sources suggest that if the scenes in question are critical to the narrative, reshoots may be required—possibly leading to a delay in release. Additionally, a recent controversy involving the alleged mishandling of a hard drive containing footage by an office staff member has added to the production’s woes.
Internal tensions within the Manchu family have also drawn public attention, further impacting the film’s momentum. Kannappa boasts an ensemble cast featuring Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Preity Mukundhan, Sarathkumar, and Devaraj. The film is set for a multilingual release in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.
Despite the setbacks, Manchu Vishnu remains hopeful, having positioned Kannappa as one of his most ambitious projects to date.