AngularJS – pass function to directive

To call a controller function in parent scope from inside an isolate scope directive, use dash-separated attribute names in the HTML like the OP said.

Also if you want to send a parameter to your function, call the function by passing an object:

<test color1="color1" update-fn="updateFn(msg)"></test>

JS

var app = angular.module('dr', []);

app.controller("testCtrl", function($scope) {
    $scope.color1 = "color";
    $scope.updateFn = function(msg) {        
        alert(msg);
    }
});

app.directive('test', function() {
    return {
        restrict: 'E',
        scope: {
            color1: '=',
            updateFn: '&'
        },
        // object is passed while making the call
        template: "<button ng-click='updateFn({msg : \"Hello World!\"})'>
            Click</button>",
        replace: true,        
        link: function(scope, elm, attrs) {             
        }
    }
});

Fiddle