Prashanth Neelakantapuram (born 4 June 1980), popularly known as Prashanth Neel, is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Kannada and Telugu films. He debuted with the Kannada action-thriller Ugramm (2014) and later directed the KGF trilogy (2018–present), whose second part became the highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time. Subsequently, Neel had his maiden Telugu film release with Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023).
Prashanth Neel | |
|---|---|
 Neel in 2022 | |
| Born | Prashanth Neel 4 June 1980 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Spouse |
Likitha Reddy (m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
Personal life
editPrashanth Neelakantapuram[1] was born on 4 June 1980[2] into a Telugu family settled in Bangalore.[1][3][4] His parents are Subhash and Bharathi,[4] and their family hails from Neelakantapuram village, near Madakasira in Andhra Pradesh. He regularly visits his native place Neelakantapuram where his father's tomb is located.[4][1][3] He shortened his eponymous surname to Neel.[1]
Neel married Likitha in 2010. The couple has a daughter and son.[5] Neel's sister is married to actor Sriimurali, who eventually starred in Neel's directorial debut Ugramm.[6] Neel is a first cousin of former Andhra Pradesh state minister, Raghu Veera Reddy and is also a cousin of Telugu film actor, Aadarsh Balakrishna.[1][7][8]
Career
editIn 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 Sriimurali 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: Chapter 1 which stands for Kolar Gold Fields has Yash playing the role of Rocky, an orphan who becomes a don. The sequel KGF: Chapter 2, was scheduled for a release in July of 2021, but was delayed due to the second wave of the COVID pandemic in India and was subsequently released in April 2022.[11][12]
In December 2020, Hombale Films announced the film Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire starring Prabhas. The film's shoot began in January 2021 and was released in December 2023. In May 2021, Mythri Movie Makers and N. T. R. Arts have announced a film in collaboration with Neel and N. T. Rama Rao Jr.[13] The film was officially began in August 2024 with the working title NTRNeel. It is scheduled to release in January 2026.[14]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | |||
| 2014 | Ugramm | Yes | Yes | Kannada |
| 2018 | KGF: Chapter 1 | Yes | Yes | Kannada |
| 2022 | KGF: Chapter 2 | Yes | Yes | Kannada |
| 2023 | Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
| 2024 | Bagheera | No | Yes | Kannada |
| TBA | Salaar: Part 2 - Shouryaanga Parvam † | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
| Dragon † | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| KGF: Chapter 3 † | Yes | Yes | Kannada | |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Ugramm | Nominated | [15] |
| 4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Debut Director – Kannada | Won | [16] | ||
| 2019 | 8th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director – Kannada | KGF: Chapter 1 | Won | [17] |
| 66th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Nominated | [18] | ||
| Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadiga Awards | Best Director | Won | [19] | ||
| 2022 | 11th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director – Kannada | KGF: Chapter 2 | Nominated | [20] |
| 2024 | 70th National Film Awards | Best Feature Film in Kannada | Won | [21] | |
| 68th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Nominated | [22] | ||
| 69th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Telugu | Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Nominated | [23] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "నీల్ అంటే నీలకంఠాపురం – ప్రశాంత్ నీల్ మనోడే ! ఇవిగో డీటైల్స్". ABP Desam (in Telugu). 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Prabhas and Jr NTR wish 'KGF' director Prashanth Neel for birthday". The News Minute. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
Prashanth Neel [..] is celebrating his 41st birthday on Friday, June 4.
- ^ a b "KGF : ప్రశాంత్ నీల్ మన తెలుగువాడే.. ఈ రాజకీయ నాయకుడికి బంధువే.. మీకు తెలుసా?? | Facts about Prashanth Neel". 10TV (in Telugu). 23 April 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "KGF Director Prashanth Neel's Special Connection With Andhra Pradesh. Learn More". News18. 27 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "In Pictures: Prashanth Neel shares a heart-warming post to wish daughter a happy birthday". The Times of India. 27 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022.
- ^ "ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ನೀಲ್, ಶ್ರೀಮುರಳಿಗೆ ಸಿನಿಮಾ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ; ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ ಬಾವ-ಬಾಮೈದರ ಅಪರೂಪದ ಫೋಟೋಗಳು". News18 Kannada (in Kannada). 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022.
- ^ Kumar, Thummala (23 April 2022). "KGF డైరెక్టర్ మన సీమబిడ్డే.. రఘువీరారెడ్డి బంధువు.. ఆసక్తికర విషయాలు". Samayam Telugu (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview : Aadarsh Balakrishna- I have taken my career very seriously now". 123telugu.com. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
- ^ Setlur, Mukund. ""ಸಿನೆಮಾ ಉದ್ದೇಶ ಕತೆ ಹೇಳುವುದಲ್ಲ"- ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ್ ನೀಲ್" [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. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Express, Financial (7 July 2021). "Raveena Tandon reveals delay to KGF: Chapter 2 release, new date to be announced soon". Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "KGF 2 to release in theatres on this date, Yash-Sanjay Dutt hype up the much-anticipated action film". The Indian Express. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "'KGF' director Prashanth Neel announces new project with Jr NTR". The News Minute. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (9 August 2024). "'RRR' Star NTR Jr Starts Film by 'K.G.F.' Director Prashanth Neel – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Filmfare Awards South 2019 Kannada Nominations | Filmfare". Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "SIIMA AWARDS | 2015 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
- ^ "SIIMA AWARDS | 2019 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
- ^ "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. 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. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ K., Janani (2 August 2023). "SIIMA 2023 nomination out. 'PS 1', 'RRR', 'KGF 2' and 'Kantara' bag top spots". India Today. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Prashanth Neel Reacts To KGF Chapter 2's National Award Wins: 'A Triumph for Kannada Cinema'". News18. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South ( Kannada ) 2023 | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Filmfare (4 August 2024). "Full list of Winners of the 69th SOBHA Filmfare Awards South (Telugu) 2024". Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.