Prashanth Gunasekaran(I)

Prashanth Gunasekaran (Shan), from Klang, Malaysia. Prashanth, along with his family, moved to New Zealand in 2003. Since his early days, Prashanth was involved in numerous theatre productions in Malaysia, and that passion crossed over to NZ, where he excelled in drama studies, picking up the best supporting actor award for the National Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival. Subsequently, he played a lead role in Fame the musical. The following year, Prashanth picked up Theatre Studies at the University of Otago and further excelled in this field. Prashanth was offered to direct his first stage show while studying theatre direction under the esteemed Dr. Lisa Warrington. He directed and performed in a dark satire comedy, 'Gum & Goo'.

Prashanth subsequently gained a keen interest in filmmaking, making his debut in the screen industry as 1st AD on an award-winning NZ Indie Urban Turban (2014). His next project would also be a 1st AD position, but halfway through pre-production, he was offered to co-direct a local Maori film Destina (2013). The film was straight-to-VD in 2012. Over the years, he continued to harness his skill as a director - working alongside fellow emerging artists to produce and direct films such as T-Junction 'Dil Na Jaane' (2016), Give Me the Gun (2016), Lady Luck (2016), Come Ride with Me (2016), My One and Only (2015), Leaving You Behind (2017) & Don't 'F' with Me (2022). Prashanth's film has gone on to have festival success in indie film festivals around the world.

In 2014, Prashanth met his mentor, Ken Khan. Ken roped him in numerous production roles, 1st AD for an international TVC, international indie feature films, and post-production roles. Over the years, Prashanth had gained valuable experience working with Ken under the company of MNC Film Studios. Prashanth has gone on to 1st AD Australian Indie gem The Colour of Darkness (2017), line-produced, Pinjamkan Hatiku (2017), Soulmate Hingga Jannah (2017), post-produced/coordinated, award-winning films Suatu Ketika (2019) & Spilt Gravy on Rice (2015).

In 2017, Prashanth was to serve as the 1st AD on an upcoming NZ-Cook Island film Stranded Pearl (2024), but as the project was green-lit for production, Ken invited Prashanth to co-direct the film with him. Stranded Pearl (2024) had a limited NZ Theatrical release from 12 September 2024 and is in the festival markets, having marked its first official selection at the Okinawa Pan-Pacific Ocean by Sea Film Festival in 2025.

Prashanth formed. production company, PG6 Creations, and often collaborates Ken Khan and Jess Denise from Obvious Agency. Prashanth is in post-production for a film titled Little Buddy and the Sitcom Pilot 'Ex's & Oh's. Additionally, he is in early discussions for several other features with indie film studios.

Prashanth is known for the films he has directed and produced My Rock, Last Star, Irumanam (2017), Bing Bang Blussey, with upcoming films The Trade (NZ 2023), For Thom (2023), Stranded Pearl (2024).

Keeping up with his passion for on-screen work, Prashanth is known for films he has featured in Last Star, Brave Love (2024), First Date (2014), Irumanam (2017), The NoteBook (2013) (starring Mulan and The Plane Start Yoson An and his contribution to community theatre.