Prashanth Neel reviews Bagheera: 'It's far, far better than...'

Writer-director Prashanth Neel has revealed that while he conceived the story for Bagheera, it was director Dr. Suri who took the initial idea and transformed it into a cinematic marvel. Neel emphasized that the film audiences will experience on screen is a product of Suri’s vision and dedication, crediting him for making the movie his own and elevating it to a whole new level.

Neel, who has already watched Bagheera, praised Suri’s gutsy decision to hold back the film’s best moments from the trailer, preserving them for audiences in theatres. “Usually, when we cut trailers, we try to put the best shots in them,” Neel said. “It was Suri’s bold move, I think, not to include all the best shots. I have seen the movie, and it’s far, far better than the trailer.”

Suri reportedly spent over two years working on the screenplay, developing Neel’s initial concept into a complex story that stars actor Sriimurali in the lead role. Neel expressed admiration for Suri’s creative journey, explaining, “I can give you an idea, but it’s the director who envisions it as a movie. We were just talking, and Suri said he liked the concept and wanted to work on it. From that point, he took it and developed it into the marvel you will see in theatres.”

Neel continued to highlight Suri’s ownership of the project, adding, “100 percent of what’s in the movie is his. He deserves the full praise if the movie is good, and criticism if it’s bad,” he quipped. Neel clarified that his role in the project was limited to validating Suri’s ideas during the writing process, similar to collaborations he’s had in the past with Sriimurali on Ugramm, Yash on KGF, and Prabhas on Salaar.

“Bagheera started as a different idea in my head,” Neel admitted. “But the way Suri has executed and taken it forward is absolutely brilliant. It’s his signature.”

Produced by Hombale Films, Bagheera is slated for a theatrical release on October 31.

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