Prashanth Neelakantapuram (born 4 June 1980), commonly 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 franchise (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 Neelakantapuram[1] was born on 4 June 1980[2] in 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]
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 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 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.[14][15]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | |||
| 2014 | Ugramm | Yes | Yes | Kannada |
| 2018 | KGF: Chapter 1 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2022 | KGF: Chapter 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
| 2024 | Bagheera | No | Story | Kannada |
| 2026 | NTRNEEL † | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
| TBA | Salaar Part 2 - Shouryaanga Parvam † | Yes | Yes | Telugu |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Ugramm | Nominated | [16] |
| 4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Debut Director – Kannada | Won | [17] | ||
| 2019 | 8th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director – Kannada | KGF: Chapter 1 | Won | [18] |
| 66th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Nominated | [19] | ||
| Zee Kannada Hemmeya Kannadiga Awards | Best Director | Won | [20] | ||
| 2022 | 11th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director – Kannada | KGF: Chapter 2 | Nominated | [21] |
| 2024 | 70th National Film Awards | Best Feature Film in Kannada | Won | [22] | |
| 68th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Kannada | Nominated | [23] | ||
| 69th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director – Telugu | Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire | Nominated | [24] | |
| 3rd IIFA Utsavam | Best Director – Telugu | Nominated | [25] |
Prashanth Neel [..] is celebrating his 41st birthday on Friday, June 4.
