Ugramm was a trailblazer in many ways, says director Prashanth Neel

Ugramm, a precursor to the breaking barriers trend in cinema — marked a decade of its release recently. A young Prashanth Neel — now a much-wanted director in the country, post KGF and Salaar — debuted as a director with the film which starred Sriimurali and Hariprriya in the lead. A fierce action thriller, the film went on to notch 125 days in Nartaki, a prominent theatre in the city.It brought in a resurgence in Sriimurali’s career and paved the way for a glowing career for everyone involved with the film.
‘Created Ugramm to depict a dystopian world’
Prashanth who co-wrote the story of Ugramm with Ram Shri Laxman, feels Kannada cinema still hasn’t tapped into this concept. “We had a plethora of antagonists, suffering and also bigger heroism,” points Prashanth, who believes a director must be a poet and a pragmatist in equal measure.
Ugramm was my biggest teacher: Prashanth Neel
“When I made Ugramm, I thought I was prepared for direction; I realised I wasn’t,” shares Prashanth. “It was a new team and I didn’t anticipate the other aspects that go into a film including editing or perhaps even producing. It’s not just about storytelling; a film also needs only one commander at the helm. Whether it’s right or wrong, only one person must command the ship. I learnt this precious lesson in that film and it’s what I follow till date. I’m not good with money so I like to work with good producers who not only understand the art of filmmaking but skilled with finances too. But I have the fondest memories because it’s my first film and my biggest teacher,” says Prashanth.
‘25 days post release, pirated copies of Ugramm were out’
Sriimurali shares how the team decided to let this episode pass because Prashanth foresaw the results. “He said the movie would reach everyone, and like he predicted, the film became a cult hit. Even today, it has the highest viewership when you open a video broadcasting site,” smiles Sriimurali.
The story of the Ugramm poster
The poster featuring Sriimurali in an energetic dance move was a favourite amongst fans. “We were filming a dance sequence and Prashanth had taken a day off owing to the birth of his daughter. When he came back, he rejected everything we had shot and decided to keep this one frame of me dancing away unabashedly. It was the title song of Ugramm and Prashanth said, “dance away…do whatever you want.” Even today, that spirit comes across in the poster,” shares Sriimurali.