New Delhi: The makers of the upcoming Telugu-language mythological film Kannappa have released Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s first look as the deity Shiva. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, the movie marks Kumar’s Telugu debut.
Based on the legend of Kannappa, a Shiva devotee, the film stars Vishnu Manchu in the titular role. It also features appearances from Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Kajal Aggarwal. Originally supposed to be released last year, the movie will now hit theatres in April.
Kumar’s look reveal comes two weeks after Aggarwal’s look as Parvathi Devi was released.
“Stepping into the sacred aura of Mahadev for #Kannappa. Honored to bring this epic tale to life. May Lord Shiva guide us on this divine journey. Om Namah Shivaya!” read the caption for Kumar’s post on Instagram.
The announcement has Kumar’s fans excited: “Har har Mahadev” was the most common comment on the actor’s post.
Artist Prem Awale, however, isn’t impressed. “Shyd Costume designing me kuch kami reh gayi hai… gale me Vasuki naag nahi… ganga ji nahi… Body pe bhasma nahi… Shiv ji ka Rudra wala feel itna powerful nahi lag rha hai.. (Costume designing is perhaps lacking. There is no Vasuki snake around his neck, no Ganga River, no ash on the body… Shiva’s Rudra form doesn’t seem that powerful.)” he wrote in a comment.
Interior designer Saurav Chauhan found another problem: “Lord shiva wasn’t born from anyone. He is a swayambhu. Showing a navel shows how much research they did while making the movie.”
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Kumar’s role in ‘OMG 2’
Akshay Kumar’s earlier attempt to play Shiva was met with censorship in Amit Rai’s OMG 2 (2023). The movie faced trouble at the reviewing table at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). It came under greater scrutiny after the controversy surrounding the rowdy language used by mythological characters in Om Raut’s Adipurush (2023).
The film was eventually awarded an ‘A’ certificate with 27 cuts and significant modifications. While no official statements were made, reports suggested that the makers wanted a ‘U/A’ certificate since the film is about sex education and aims at educating teenagers.
Akshay Kumar’s character in the film was then modified from Shiva to a ‘Messenger of God’. The lines, “Nandi mere bhakt…jo agya prabhu (Nandi, my devotee… As you command, my lord)”, were also added to keep in tandem with the change. While the film was originally set in Ujjain, this was also changed to a nameless fictional place.
Kumar’s look, however, with long locks, tiger skin, and rudraksha beads, still indicated the original intent of the makers.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)