Censor certification hurdle delays ‘Shiva Shiva Shankaraa’ song release
12 Feb 2025 8:02 AM
The cancellation has come as a major setback for the film’s producers
The much-anticipated Hindi lyrical release of Shiva Shiva Shankaraa from the upcoming film Kannappa was abruptly cancelled due to the lack of proper censor certification (Image credit: Social media)
The much-anticipated Hindi lyrical release of Shiva Shiva Shankaraa from the upcoming film Kannappa was abruptly cancelled due to the lack of proper censor certification required for screening in theaters. The song, which has already gone viral in the South, was set to be unveiled before the national press, with a grand event planned to showcase its making.
The cancellation has come as a major setback for the film’s producers, who had painstakingly coordinated the presence of key stars from the Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi industries. According to an inside source, “We were eager to present the making of this song to highlight the massive cinematic scale and the painstaking efforts that went into its production. It has been shot in a deeply rooted manner, and the visuals depict a powerful act of devotion, where Kannappa plucks out one of his eyes and places it on the lingam to stop the bleeding. This was something we really wanted the audience to witness.”
Aligning the schedules of top actors for the Mumbai press conference had been no small feat. “Akshay Kumar, who is making his Telugu debut with Kannappa, had also committed to attending,” the source added. “Now, securing another date to bring everyone together again will be incredibly challenging.”
Addressing the delay caused by the certification issue, the source clarified, “Since this was a private event, we assumed there wouldn’t be any restrictions. However, it seems that any screening in theaters now requires censor certification. We are working on obtaining it from the South.”
With the Mumbai press conference postponed indefinitely, the team has shifted focus to upcoming promotional activities, including a visit to the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and Chitral Lingam. “We haven’t set a new date for the Mumbai event yet, as we are caught up with promotions and post-production work,” the source added.
On the financial front, the film’s producers are in discussions with distributors across India and overseas. “We are still in the process of securing deals. Our producers are set to meet Sri Lankan distributors flying in tonight,” the source revealed.
Kannappa is a Telugu mythological drama directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, starring Vishnu Manchu in the titular role. The film chronicles the journey of an atheist hunter who becomes a devout follower of Lord Shiva. Also featuring Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal, and Madhubala, the film is produced by Mohan Babu under AVA Entertainment and 25 Frames Factory. With music by Stephen Devassy and Mani Sharma, Kannappa is slated for a grand theatrical release on April 25, 2026.
The cancellation has come as a major setback for the film’s producers, who had painstakingly coordinated the presence of key stars from the Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi industries. According to an inside source, “We were eager to present the making of this song to highlight the massive cinematic scale and the painstaking efforts that went into its production. It has been shot in a deeply rooted manner, and the visuals depict a powerful act of devotion, where Kannappa plucks out one of his eyes and places it on the lingam to stop the bleeding. This was something we really wanted the audience to witness.”
Aligning the schedules of top actors for the Mumbai press conference had been no small feat. “Akshay Kumar, who is making his Telugu debut with Kannappa, had also committed to attending,” the source added. “Now, securing another date to bring everyone together again will be incredibly challenging.”
Addressing the delay caused by the certification issue, the source clarified, “Since this was a private event, we assumed there wouldn’t be any restrictions. However, it seems that any screening in theaters now requires censor certification. We are working on obtaining it from the South.”
With the Mumbai press conference postponed indefinitely, the team has shifted focus to upcoming promotional activities, including a visit to the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and Chitral Lingam. “We haven’t set a new date for the Mumbai event yet, as we are caught up with promotions and post-production work,” the source added.
On the financial front, the film’s producers are in discussions with distributors across India and overseas. “We are still in the process of securing deals. Our producers are set to meet Sri Lankan distributors flying in tonight,” the source revealed.
Kannappa is a Telugu mythological drama directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, starring Vishnu Manchu in the titular role. The film chronicles the journey of an atheist hunter who becomes a devout follower of Lord Shiva. Also featuring Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, Mohan Babu, Mohanlal, Kajal Aggarwal, and Madhubala, the film is produced by Mohan Babu under AVA Entertainment and 25 Frames Factory. With music by Stephen Devassy and Mani Sharma, Kannappa is slated for a grand theatrical release on April 25, 2026.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
Next Story