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Prashanth Neel
Neel in 2022
Born	Prashanth Neel (1980-06-04) 4 June 1980 (age 44) Haasan, Karnataka, India
Occupations	Film director screenwriter
Years active	2014–present
Spouse	Likitha Reddy ​(m. 2010)​
Children	2

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).

Personal life

Prashanth Neelakantapuram was born on 4 June 1980 into a Telugu family settled in Bangalore. His parents are Subhash and Bharathi, 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. He shortened his eponymous surname to Neel.

Neel married Likitha in 2010. The couple has a daughter and son. Neel's sister is married to actor Sriimurali, who eventually starred in Neel's directorial debut Ugramm. 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.

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 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. The film turned out to be a massive commercial success and emerged as one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2014.

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.

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. The film was officially began in August 2024 with the working title NTRNeel. It is scheduled to release in January 2026.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "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.
2. "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.
3. ^ "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.
4. ^ "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.
5. "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.
6. "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.
7. 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.
8. "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.
9. 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.
10. "The Top 5 Kannada films of 2014 so far". Rediff. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
11. 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.
12. "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.
13. "'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.
14. 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.
15. "Filmfare Awards South 2019 Kannada Nominations | Filmfare". Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
16. "SIIMA AWARDS | 2015 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
17. "SIIMA AWARDS | 2019 | winners | |". www.siima.in. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021. Note: Select "Kannada" language tab.
18. "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. "Prashanth Neel Reacts To KGF Chapter 2's National Award Wins: 'A Triumph for Kannada Cinema'". News18. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
22. "Winners of the 68th Filmfare Awards South ( Kannada ) 2023 | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
23. 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.

External links

• Prashanth Neel at IMDb
• Prashanth Neel on Twitter

• 1980 births
• Living people
• Telugu film directors
• Telugu screenwriters
• Kannada film directors
• Film directors from Bengaluru
• Screenwriters from Bengaluru
• 21st-century Indian people
• South Indian International Movie Awards winners
• Indian experimental filmmakers
• National Film Award (India) winners