We recently connected with Pradhyumna V Kashyap and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Pradhyumna V thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was eight years old I think. I used to take my dad’s camcorder and sneak off with my brother to shoot “blockbusters” in the nearby streets. When we went to vacations, my brother and I used to shoot at the scenic spots and also use existing Indian songs with our own lyrics. It all started as a fun motif and I used to write short stories based off of comic books and other books I used to read. Including encyclopedias! These small things gave me a push I believe. When I was seventeen, I always wanted to become a space scientist. My interest in it transcended space and time (pun intended). But, I found out my math wasn’t enough to become one through my school. There was this kind of classification of students who didn’t perform well in academics. I was one of them. This literally pushed me towards creativity. I resumed writing stories and started to direct small plays and skits. That’s when I realized I had the capacity to do this on a professional level! When I spoke with my parents about this, they were welcoming of it and supported me about 80% and helped me enter the Kannada film industry (a regional industry in the southern part of India). It’s because of my parents that I was totally able to immerse myself in these creative processes without worrying about academics. They are my key.

Pradhyumna V, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in the Heritage City of India, Mysuru, to my parents, Dr. Vasantha Kumar K R and Thanuja C. My early years were spent exploring various parts of southern India—Kolar, Munnar, Coimbatore, and Shivamogga—before I returned to Mysuru at the age of 15. The vibrant cultures of these cities fueled my imagination and sparked my creativity from a young age.

Even as a child, I had a knack for direction and storytelling, which led me to win several national awards in story writing competitions across India.
After completing my Pre-University education, I decided to pursue filmmaking as my profession, diving headfirst into the Kannada Film Industry. My passion for the craft also opened doors for me. My parents stood by me wholeheartedly, encouraging me to chase my dreams instead of pursuing further studies. Their unwavering support gave me the strength to push through every obstacle, reflecting the resilient spirit of Mysuru that I carry with me.

Under the mentorship of the legendary filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli, I sharpened my artistic skills, specializing in story writing, screenwriting, script coordination, script supervision, and direction. I’ve always believed in kindness and collaboration, which has made me a sought-after partner in Sandalwood (nickname for the Kannada Film Industry). Over the past decade, I’ve worked on more than 15 feature films and 24 short films, building a foundation of experience I’m proud of.

Eventually, I felt the pull to broaden my horizons, so I moved to New York City—a place I now call my second home. Living in this bustling metropolis has not only refined my filmmaking skills but also deepened my understanding of different cultures, enriching the way I approach my work. New York has shaped me into a better storyteller and a filmmaker and, more importantly, a better person. I’ve had the privilege of contributing to projects like Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar’s “James” and various student films in the United States. For me, creating is a sacred process, and I’m driven by a desire to share my knowledge of films and filmmaking with the world.

My commitment to the craft has brought me incredible opportunities—like attending world premieres in New York City and learning from legendary Hollywood directors such as Zack Snyder, Alex Garland, and Ari Aster. My short film “Possessionophrenia” premiered theatrically at DRC Cinemas Mysuru and is now being considered for festivals in the US. Right now, I’m working on my Telugu debut with a Sci-Fi script and a psychological thriller short film called “Schizodemonia,” which will be produced in New York City.

One of my proudest moments was serving as an uncredited associate producer for Warner Bros.’ DC Extended Universe film “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” in 2021. I’m also writing a book, “The ‘FUN’Damentals of Filmmaking,” under the guidance of my mentor, Girish Kasaravalli. My journey is fueled by an insatiable hunger for my art and a relentless pursuit of perfection. It’s been a wild ride, full of hard work, passion, and an unwavering dedication to filmmaking—and I’m just getting started.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I actually have one. When I sit or mingle with non creatives, I usually sit quietly, listen to others talk or just stare blankly or even scroll my phone around. People think I am wasting my time or procrastinating. But in fact, I am not. My brain keeps on working its creative ways by itself. Even though I would be talking to someone, making eye contact, giggle with them, I would have a vision of the place we are in, and what and how could I film something in that place? What would the story be? Who would be the characters? This has actually caused some arguments and people have actually thought I annoy them with my silence. When I am not doing anything.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Creatives, very often filmmakers say that their work is a piece of art and it is to be enjoyed by people in a philosophical way. But for me, even though I agree on that aspect, I always have felt that Cinema is a business ultimately. That is maybe because of the way I started working in films. My belief is that I don’t want to create a statement or prove something about an issue like most art films do. But, I believe that every person already has their own issues in their lives. Talking about the same thing on screen doesn’t feel right to me. I care more about entertaining the audience. I feel if a person is spending $20 on the ticket for the movie, they should head back out of the theater satisfied of being entertained.

But, that doesn’t mean I am saying people who talk about issues in their films are not doing good. It is because of them that films are considered art pieces having its own values.

My goal is to create nuanced characters, gripping stories, and make films that are enjoyable, give them something to think, and most importantly entertain them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pradhsphotos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pradhyumna-v-kashyap-a45365244?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

Omkar Huude