Kiran Kumar (born 22 October 1976),[1] known by his screen name Prem, is an Indian film director in Kannada cinema.[2]

Prem
Prem in October 2020
Born
Kiran Kumar

(1976-10-22) 22 October 1976 (age 47)
Other namesJogi Prem
Occupation(s)Film director, actor, playback singer, lyricist, Film producer
Years active2003–present
Spouse
(m. 2007)
Children1
Websitewww.prempicttures.com

Personal life edit

Prem was born as Kiran Kumar on 22 October 1976 in Maddur, in the Mandya district of the Indian state of Karnataka, to Rajappa and Bhagyamma.[1] He is married to actress-turned-producer Rakshita and they have a son named Surya.

Career edit

Prem started his career as assistant director on the film Nishkarsha (1993), working with Sunil Kumar Desai, while he was pursuing his pre-university course. Upon completion of the film, he returned to his hometown Mandya to complete the course before returning to Bangalore. He proceeded to work as an associate director with G. K. Mudduraj on Rayara Maga (1994) and Kannamuchchale; Dorai–Bhagavan; and with A. R. Babu on Hello Yama. Producer Anekal Balaraju offered him an opportunity to direct his first film Kariya (2003) independently.[3]

Kariya was a gangster romance film starring Darshan in the lead. The film was critically acclaimed and appreciated by the audience. Prem was lauded for his casting of real life big dons to act in his movie. The soundtrack and cinematography were also widely appreciated. Darshan played a gangster struggling to express his love. The same year, Prem directed the light-hearted romantic film Excuse Me with Ajay Rao, Sunil Raoh and Ramya in the lead roles. The film turned out to be a musical hit with many of its songs composed by R. P. Patnaik becoming chart busters.

In 2005, Prem came out with his biggest blockbuster film, Jogi, starring Shivarajkumar,[4] Jennifer Kotwal and Arundhati Nag in the lead roles. The film made record collections at the box-office. The mother-son sentiment theme was widely applauded and was considered as Shivarajkumar's[5] biggest comeback film.[6]

Following three back-to-back super hit films, Prem tried his hand at acting besides directing the film Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide in 2008. The film's pre-release promotions received much media attention and expectations of the film were high. Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat made her debut in South Indian films with a special appearance. The film was widely popular for its melodious sound tracks.

Prem next directed the film Raaj the Showman in 2010. It starred Puneeth Rajkumar and Priyanka Kothari. It is remembered mostly for its soundtrack by V. Harikrishna and cinematography. The movie was an average grosser at the box office despite the presence of the heavyweights Puneeth Rajkumar and V. Harikrishna.

Prem, for the first time without himself directing, accepted the lead role in the controversial film titled Prem Adda,[7] a remake of the Tamil blockbuster hit Subramaniapuram with music by V.Harikrishna directed by Mahesh Babu. The film made an average collection in box office. Under his production house Premdreams he produced and acted in the movie DK in 2014.[8]

Prem's , Ek Love Ya, has been released. The movie stars debutant Raanna and is produced by Rakshita Prem.

His upcoming film, KD - The Devil, starring Dhruva Sarja, Sanjay Dutt, and Shilpa Shetty is slated for a release in April 2024.

Filmography edit

Year Film Director Actor Singer Lyricist
2003 Kariya Yes
Excuse Me Yes Yes Yes
2005 Jogi Yes Yes Yes
2007 Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide Yes Yes Yes Yes
2009 Raaj the Showman Yes Yes Yes
2011 Jogayya Yes Yes Yes
2012 Prem Adda Yes Yes Yes
2013 Dasavala Yes
2015 DK Yes Yes Yes
2018 The Villain Yes Yes Yes
Ambi Ning Vayassaytho Yes
2022 Ek Love Ya Yes Yes Yes
2024 KD - The Devil Yes

Discography edit

Year Song(s) Film Composer Lyricist Notes
2003 "Brahma Vishnu Shiva" Excuse Me R. P. Patnaik V. Nagendra Prasad Sang with chorus
"Thottilu Thugolige" Co-sang with Madhukar
2005 "Beduvenu Varavannu" Jogi Gurukiran Prem Solo
"Hodi Maga" Co-sang with Gurukiran and Gururaj Hoskote
2007 "Magalu Doddavaladalu" Ee Preethi Yeke Bhoomi Melide R. P. Patnaik Co-sang with C. Ashwath and Kalpana
"Ee Preethi Yeke" Solo
2008 "Nalle Nalle" Marujanma Srimurali. Solo
2009 "Raajaa Heluvagella" Raaj the Showman V. Harikrishna Kaviraj Co-sang with Shreya Ghoshal
2011 "Odole" Jogayya V. Harikrishna Prem Co-sang with Shreya Ghoshal
2012 "Baadigege" Prem Adda V. Harikrishna Co-sang with Shreya Ghoshal
2013 "Davva Davva" Jataayu Vinay Chandra Kaviraj Solo
2014 "Dooradondu" Muddu Manase Vineeth Raj Menon Santhu Solo[9]
2015 "Sesamma" DK Arjun Janya Prem Co-sang with Mamta Sharma
"Banda Banda" Sudarshan Solo
2016 "Alemarriyaagi Aleyo Thirkai" Half Mentlu Bharath BJ Lakshmi Dinesh Solo
2017 ""Ee Mannali" Mass Leader Veer Samarth V. Nagendra Prasad Co-sang with Chintan Vikas and Govind Kurnool
2018 "Marali Baradorige" Parasanga Harsha Vardhan Raj N K Lolakshi Solo
"Tick Tick Tick"
The Villain[10] Arjun Janya Prem Co-sang with Kailash Kher, Vijay Prakash, and Siddharth Basrur
"Love Aagoythe" Solo
"Rana Rana Raavana" Co-sang with Shreya Ghoshal
2019 "Panchatantra" Panchatantra V. Harikrishna Yogaraj Bhat Solo
"Amma Amma Ammaa" Sinnga[11] Dharma Vish V. Nagendra Prasad Solo
2020 "Belakondu" Naanu Matthu Gunda Karthik Sharma Rohith Raman Solo
2021 "Helu Yaake" Ek Love Ya Arjun Janya Prem Solo
"Edebaditha Joragide" Manjunath BS Co-sang with Anuradha Bhat
2022 "O Ramayya" Kandhidi Nodana Sreedar Kashyap Ravipoojar Solo
"Geleya Title Track" Geleya MS Thyagaraj MS Thyagaraj Solo
2023 "Amma Emba Hesare" Parimala D'Souza Christopher Jayson B K. Kalyan Solo

References edit

  1. ^ a b Weekend with Ramesh Season 2 – Episode 1 – December 26, 2015 – Full Episode (in Kannada). Zee Kannada. 26 December 2015. Event occurs at 8:30. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Happy Birthday Prem". supergoodmovies.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Promising director". Deccan Herald. 11 January 2004. Archived from the original on 13 January 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Prem says Salmankhan was all praise for this a list kannada actor and its not sudeep". Filmibeat. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Whenever prem and I collaborate, he experiments on me: Shivrajkumar". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  6. ^ "I follow shivanna and ignore the attacks". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Director prem returns to acting". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ^ "I appreciate salman khans love for south indian films: prem". Cinema Express. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Muddu Manase (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)".
  10. ^ "Sudeep laud prem, the villain is special". Indiaglitz. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Prem sings sentimental song for Singha". Cinema Express. Retrieved 16 February 2019.

External links edit