Prashanth Neel
Prashanth Neelakantapuram (born 4 June 1980) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who primarily works in the Kannada film industry. He made his debut with the 2014 Kannada film, Ugramm and later directed the two-part film series: K.G.F: Chapter 1 (2018), and K.G.F: Chapter 2 (2022), the latter being the highest-grossing Kannada film.
Personal life
Prashanth Neelakantapuram[1] was born on 4 June 1980[2] in a Telugu family in Karnataka.[1][3][4] Born to Subhash and Bharathi,[5] their family hails from Neelakantapuram village, near Madakasira, Andhra Pradesh, and settled in Bangalore.[4][5]
Neel married Likhitha in 2010. The couple has a daughter and son.[6] Neel's sister is married to Kannada actor Sriimurali, who eventually starred in Neel's directorial debut Ugramm.[7] Neel is also a cousin of Telugu film actor, Aadarsh Balakrishna,[8] and is also related to former Andhra Pradesh state minister, Raghu Veera Reddy.[4]
Career
In an interview with a Kannada weekly magazine, Neel said he took to filmmaking initially for the need of money, following which he completed a course in the same, eventually developing interest in it. After having completed the course, he decided to cast his brother-in-law and actor Srimurali in Aa Hudugi Neene, a screenplay that he had written during the time. After the latter expressed his concerns due to his inexperience, Neel changed his mind and began observing Srimurali's mannerisms over a period of time, and came up with the project Ugramm, an action film.[9] The film turned out to be a massive commercial success and emerged as one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2014.[10]
Reports emerged in late 2014 and early 2015 of Neel having been signed to direct three films. The first is a sequel to Ugramm, entitled Ugramm Veeram, which would feature Srimurali reprise his role from Ugramm. His next film KGF which stands for Kolar Gold Fields presented Yash in the role of Rocky, an orphan who becomes a don. The sequel KGF: Chapter 2, was scheduled for a theatrical release on 16 July 2021, but was delayed due to the second wave of the COVID pandemic in India.[11]
On 2 December 2020, Hombale Films announced the film Salaar with Prabhas. The film's shoot began on 29 January 2021. In May 2021, Mythri Movie Makers and N.T.R. Arts have announced a film in collaboration with Neel and Jr. NTR, for his 31st film.[12] The film is expected to begin its production in April 2023.[13] He also signed a project with Producer Dil Raju , starring Prabhas, his second collaboration with him, titled Ravanam.
Filmography
| Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Ugramm | Yes | Yes | Kannada | |
| 2018 | K.G.F: Chapter 1 | Yes | Yes | Kannada | |
| 2022 | K.G.F: Chapter 2 | Yes | Yes | Kannada | |
| 2023 | Bagheera | No | Yes | Kannada | |
| Salaar | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
Awards and nominations
| Film | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ugramm | 62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Director (Kannada) | Nominated | [14] |
| 4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Debutant Director (Kannada) | Won | [15] | |
| K.G.F: Chapter 1 | 8th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director (Kannada) | Won | [16] |
| 66th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director (Kannada) | Nominated | [17] | |
| Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadiga Awards 2019 | Best Director | Won | [18] |
References
- ^ a b c "నీల్ అంటే నీలకంఠాపురం - ప్రశాంత్ నీల్ మనోడే ! ఇవిగో డీటైల్స్". ABP Desam (in Telugu). 21 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Prabhas and Jr NTR wish 'KGF' director Prashanth Neel for birthday". The News Minute. 4 June 2021.
Prashanth Neel [..] is celebrating his 41st birthday on Friday, June 4.
- ^ "KGF : ప్రశాంత్ నీల్ మన తెలుగువాడే.. ఈ రాజకీయ నాయకుడికి బంధువే.. మీకు తెలుసా?? | Facts about Prashanth Neel". 10TV (in Telugu). 23 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Kumar, Thummala (23 April 2022). "KGF డైరెక్టర్ మన సీమబిడ్డే.. రఘువీరారెడ్డి బంధువు.. ఆసక్తికర విషయాలు". Samayam Telugu (in Telugu).
- ^ a b "KGF Director Prashanth Neel's Special Connection With Andhra Pradesh. Learn More". News18. 27 April 2022.
- ^ "In Pictures: Prashanth Neel shares a heart-warming post to wish daughter a happy birthday - Times of India". The Times of India. 27 January 2021.
- ^ "ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ನೀಲ್, ಶ್ರೀಮುರಳಿಗೆ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ; ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ ಬಾವ-ಬಾಮೈದರ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಫೋಟೋಗಳು". News18 Kannada (in Kannada). 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview : Aadarsh Balakrishna- I have taken my career very seriously now". 123telugu.com. 15 May 2020.
- ^ Setlur, Mukund. [Aim of the Film is Not Narration of the Story] (in Kannada). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ "The Top 5 Kannada films of 2014 so far". Rediff.
- ^ Express, Financial (7 July 2021). "Raveena Tandon reveals delay to KGF: Chapter 2 release, new date to be announced soon".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "'KGF' director Prashanth Neel announces new project with Jr NTR". The News Minute. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "NTR 31 first look: Jr NTR's fierce avatar in Prashanth Neel directorial promises to be a pan-India blockbuster". Firstpost. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Filmfare Awards South 2019 Kannada Nominations | Filmfare".
- ^ "SIIMA AWARDS | 2015 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
- ^ "SIIMA AWARDS | 2019 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
- ^ "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ Parinika Uchil (31 March 2019). "Hemmeya Kannadiga Awards 2019 Winners List: A Big Win For Rachitha Ram, Yash And Chikkana". Archived from the original on 16 August 2019.
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