UI (film)

2024 Indian film by Upendra

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Upendra
Written by| Upendra
Produced by| G. Manoharan
Sreekanth K. P.
Bhaumik Gondaliya
Starring| Upendra
Reeshma Nanaiah
Cinematography| H. C. Venugopal
Edited by| Vijay Raj B. G.
Music by| B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Production
companies

Lahari Films
Venus Entertainers

Release date

* 20 December 2024 (2024-12-20)

Running time

| 132 minutes
Country| India
Language| Kannada
Budget| ₹60–100 crore[1][2]
Box office| ₹47 crore [3]

UI is a 2024 Indian Kannada-language sci-fi dystopian action film directed by Upendra and produced by Lahari Films and Venus Entertainers. The film stars Upendra, alongside Reeshma Nanaiah, Nidhi Subbaiah, Murali Sharma, Sadhu Kokila and Indrajit Lankesh. The music was composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, while cinematography and editing were handled by H. C. Venugopal and Vijay Raj B. G.[4]

UI was released on 20 December 2024, coinciding with Christmas weekend, to mixed reviews from the critics and audience.

## Plot

[edit]

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|

Set in a dystopian world, UI revolves around the psychological conflict between Sathya and Kalki, where it also explores the after-effects of misusing power, knowledge and technology, leading to humanity and Earth's destruction.

## Cast

[edit]

* Upendra in triple role as
* Sathya
* Kalki
* Himself
* Reeshma Nanaiah as Nandini
* Sadhu Kokila as Joker, a clown in town
* Vinayak Trivedi
* Murali Sharma as Kiran Adarsh, Film Analyst and Trade Expert (Based on Taran Adarsh)
* Indrajit Lankesh
* Nidhi Subbaiah
* Om Sai Prakash
* Guruprasad
* P. Ravi Shankar as Vaamana Rao
* Achyuth Kumar
* Hamsa Prathap
* Neetu
* Lasya Nagraj

## Production

[edit]

### Development

[edit]

Upendra conceived the story for UI in the mid-2000s. This was his eleventh film as a director and first since Uppi 2 (2015).[5] The theme and storyline of the film was not revealed by the makers to the media even during the final filming stages of UI; they maintained that it was an "entertaining subject yet it tackles a significant global issue."[6] In an interview to Bangalore Times in June 2023, Upendra mentioned that "With UI, I want to build a totally different world visually. It will be 'surrealistic'".[7] A report stated that the film was reportedly made at a budget of ₹100 crore.[2]

The film got U/A certification on 19 December 2024.

### Cast and crew

[edit]

The film was launched on 3 June 2022, and the makers revealed the meaning of the title UI to be the mark worn on forehead. G. Manoharan's Lahari Films and K. P. Sreekanth's Venus Enterrtainers were reported to produce the film.[8] It was also reported that, alongside Kannada, the film would be released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. Actor Murali Sharma was reported to be a part of the film's cast when the film was announced in June 2022.[5] A month later, actress Nidhi Subbaiah's signing was reported.[9] However, until November 2022, no other members of the cast were officially confirmed by the makers. However, it was speculated that Sunny Leone was a part of the cast.[10] Reeshma Nanaiah's role too was speculated,[11] and was a confirmed a few months later.

A May 2023 report revealed that Leone and Nanaiah had been cast, alongside Murali Krishna and Indrajit Lankesh, and that B. Ajaneesh Loknath would compose the film's music. Shivakumar, who had previously worked in KGF film series and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, was hired as art director for the film.[6] Deepu S. Kumar served as the film's editor,[12] and Prajwal as the cinematographer.[11] In June, it was reported that actress Veena Ponnappa, who previously appeared in Vedha (2022), was cast.[13]

### Filming and post-production

[edit]

A co-producer of the film, Naveen Manohar, who contributed also on the technical front in the film's making, stated that the film features an entire city set, spanning 10 acres in area, complemented by extensive visual effects set extensions. He further elaborated on the visual effects, revealing that the team had created a unique world within the film, comprising over 1,400 VFX shots, and that the film incorporated various cutting-edge technologies, such as VR-Mocobot. He added that 3D scanning of Upendra was made using a setup of more than 200 DSLR cameras to create his CGI double.[6] It was reportedly the first Asian film to use this technology.[2] Manohar also revealed that an entire sequence was shot using a virtual reality pipeline.[6] Creation technology of Industrial Light & Magic, which was previously employed in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), was also used in the film.[14][15] Filming locations included Bengaluru, Mysore and Hyderabad.[15] UI was announced in June 2022. The music is composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath.

Filming for UI completed in early August 2023, with a song sequence left pending to be shot in October that year. It was reported that Upendra also assisted in editing, which would take a month's time, before the dubbing process.[12] Dubbing began in late August with Upendra voicing for the film's Kannada and Telugu versions.[16]

## Marketing

[edit]

A concept poster of the film was released by the makers on 3 June 2022. It featured a horse-like animal and other caricatures.[8] On 2 January 2023, a 32-second BTS footage was released by the makers.[15] On 1 May, another BTS footage of the making with the caption, "It is only through these hard workers and their hard work that we achieve great things" was released, to mark the International Workers' Day.[17] A teaser was released on 18 September, on the occasion of Upendra's birthday.[18] Cinema Express reported that it was "an audio-only teaser... with Upendra's voice shrouded in mystery and darkness, unveiling tantalizing sounds that hint at dripping water, thunderous gunshots, and a skilled man evading danger." The voice poses a question: "How does one escape from it?" before adding that if ones catches a glimpse of light and listens carefully, it imparts the wisdom of composure, concentration and the intricacies of weaponry.[4] The teaser concluded with a woman's voice proclaiming, "This is not 'AI,' this is 'UI', Use your Intelligence."[14] A double exposure picture with the character of Upendra's face on that of a horse was used as thumbnail of the teaser.[14] It had four million views on YouTube in 24 hours.[18]

## Soundtrack

[edit]

Soundtrack album by

B. Ajaneesh Loknath

Released| 2024
Genre| Feature film soundtrack
Language| Kannada
Label| Lahari Music
Producer| B. Ajaneesh Loknath
Singles from  UI

1. "Cheap Song Promo"
Released: 14 February 2024[19]
2. "Troll Song[20]"
Released: 4 March 2024

The music was composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath.

Track listingNo.| Title| Lyrics| Singer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Cheap Song"| Upendra| Vijay Prakash, Nakash Aziz, Deepak Blue| 3:05
2.| "Troll Song"| Naresh Kumar HN| Aishwarya Rangarajan, Harshika Devanath, Anup Bhandari, B. Ajaneesh Loknath| 3:36
Total length:| 4:23

## Release

[edit]

### Theatrical

[edit]

It was originally scheduled to be released in October 2024, but was postponed due to post-production delays.

The film was theatrically released on 20 December 2024, coinciding with Christmas in Kannada, alongside Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam languages. [21]

### Home Media

[edit]

The satellite rights of the film were acquired by Zee Kannada. It was reported that the post-theatrical streaming rights were acquired by Sun NXT, however, the producers have clarified that the streaming rights were yet to be acquired by a streaming company.[22]

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical reception

[edit]

Shashiprasad SM of Times Now rated the film 4/5 and wrote that "Upendra compresses a decade of philosophical musings into UI, presenting his personal reflections on life. However, how we receive it is up to the viewer—whether to accept it, reject it as nonsense, or find it too complex to grasp. With UI, Upendra masterfully conveys his perspective and then challenges the audience to reflect on their own views."[23] Sanjay Ponnappa of India Today gave it 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "The film creatively uses metaphors to inspire introspection while commenting on socio-political issues. Although the old-school approach to the screenplay and performances might feel outdated to some, the socio-political commentary blended with satire keeps viewers engaged. Overall, UI firmly establishes itself within the distinctive 'director Upendra' genre."[24]

Jagadish Angadi of Deccan Herald rated it 4/5 and wrote, "Upendra employs metaphors to convey his political and social philosophy. Through bold and unapologetic storytelling, he mocks society’s entrenched preferences and beliefs. He presents two potential solutions for the climax, allowing viewers to choose their own climax."[25] A. Sharadhaa of Cinema Express rated it 3/5 and wrote, "The plot of UI is complex, with numerous twists that make it difficult to explain succinctly. The narrative is layered, and while it touches on religion, caste, and corruption, these themes feel underdeveloped and lack the depth they deserve."[26]

Sridevi S. of The Times of India gave it 3/5 stars and wrote, "Upendra's films are so far known for their unique narrative and compelling storytelling, but this film feels more like a lecture than a cinematic experience. The philosophical elements fail to translate into engaging cinema as he tries to preach too many elements. A 2000-year-odd history is crunched into a 2-hour-long film."[27] Vivek M. V. of The Hindu wrote, "The first and the last 15 minutes of UI are the most incredible portions of Kannada cinema in 2024. Apart from the twisted climax, the film is quite easy to comprehend, quashing the talks about the film being a mind-bending drama."[28]

Sunayana Suresh of The South First rated it 3/5 stars and wrote, "The film has some good writing when it comes to dialogues and songs in vintage Upendra style, which makes the theatrical worth it for those who like that aspect. But, the visual effects in certain parts of the film do not sit right and overpower the narrative at times."[29] Swaroop Kodur of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote that "The writer-director makes an impassioned case for countless topics such as human greed, lust, the idea and implications of God, religion, caste, politics and utopia-dystopia. The narrative, however, is devoid of a proper screenplay-led structure to guide all these conversations, leaving it fragmented and murky."[30] Subha J Rao of The News Minute wrote that "UI, which came riding a blitzkrieg of promotion, offers a smorgasbord of garish images — the colour is so saturated, it hurts your eyes".[31]

### Box office

[edit]

On day 1, the film earned ₹6.95 crore, day 2, ₹5.6 crore and day 3, ₹5.95 crore, with first week collection of ₹26.3 crore and 10 day collection of ₹29.45 crore.[32][33] Though initially it was reported that the movie grossed around ₹37.15 crores[34] to ₹40 crores,[35] the final box office collection was reported to be ₹47 crores. [3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "UI OTT Release Date". Live Mint. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
2. ^ a b c "UI movie release date: Here's when Upendra's technical marvel is out in theatres". OTTPlay. 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
3. ^ a b "UI Movie box office verdict: Psychological thriller earns just Rs 47 crore, trade analyst says 'expected from from Upendra". India Times. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
4. ^ a b Sharadhaa, A. (19 September 2023). "Upendra stuns with an audio-only UI teaser". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
5. ^ a b "Upendra begins to shoot 'UI'". The Times of India. 29 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
6. ^ a b c d Sharadhaa, A. (31 May 2023). "UI transcends language barriers, and addresses a global issue: Upendra". Cinema Express. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
7. ^ "When technology takes over, a certain charm is lost: Upendra". The Times of India. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
8. ^ a b "UI, the movie, officially launched in true Uppi style". The New Indian Express. 4 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
9. ^ "Exclusive: Nidhi Subbaiah bags a pivotal role in Upendra's UI". The Times of India. 14 July 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
10. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (30 November 2022). "Sunny Leone part of Upendra's UI?". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
11. ^ a b "Reeshma Nanaiah to play one of the female leads in Upendra's 'UI'". The Times of India. 3 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
12. ^ a b Sharadhaa, A. (3 August 2023). "Embracing Upendra's vision, 'UI' faces a challenge at the edit desk". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
13. ^ "Veena Ponappa bags filmmaker Upendra's upcoming project". The Times of India. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
14. ^ a b c "'UI' teaser: Upendra leaves it to your imagination". The Hindu. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
15. ^ a b c Raghuraman, Shreyas (3 January 2023). "Exclusive: Upendra's 'UI' will have tech used in Avatar: Way of Water". thefederal.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
16. ^ "Upendra's multilingual entertainer 'UI' enters dubbing phase". The New Indian Express. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
17. ^ "To Team UI, With Lots Of Love From Director Upendra". News18. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
18. ^ a b "Watch: Upendra's 'UI The Movie' teaser clocks 4 million views in a day". India Today. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
19. ^ "Upendra drops the promo of 'Cheap' song from 'UI'". The South First. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
20. ^ "Troll, New Song From Upendra-starrer UI, Gets 3 Million Views". News18. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
21. ^ "Upendra's UI seals the release date | Latest Telugu cinema news | Movie reviews | OTT Updates, OTT". 123telugu.com. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
22. ^ "Post from Lahari Music | T-Series". YouTube.
23. ^ "UI Movie Review: Upendra's 'UI' Presents A Powerful Philosophy – Focus Until 'You And I' See!". Times Now. 20 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
24. ^ "UI review: Upendra's extravagant story of introspection filled with metaphors". India Today. 20 December 2024.
25. ^ "'UI' movie review: Uppi's bold satire examines a dystopian philosophy". Deccan Herald. 21 December 2024.
26. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (21 December 2024). "UI Movie Review: Upendra's film leaves us reflecting on the status quo". Cinema Express.
27. ^ "UI Movie Review : An unconventional commentary on modern society". The Times of India. 20 December 2024.
28. ^ M.V, Vivek (20 December 2024). "'UI' movie review: Upendra's political commentary is a one-of-a-kind experience". The Hindu.
29. ^ Suresh, Sunayana (20 December 2024). "UI review: This vintage Upendra brain teaser is a mixed bag". The South First.
30. ^ "'UI' Movie Review: Upendra's Head-Scratcher Misses Way More Than It Hits". The Hollywood Reporter India. 20 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
31. ^ Rao, Subha J (20 December 2024). "UI review: Two hours of torture that passes off for a movie that you've to decode". Retrieved 23 December 2024.
32. ^ "Max Box Office Collection Day 5: Kichcha Sudeep's Kannada Movie Outperforms Upendra's UI? Check Day-Wise Earnings". English Jagran. 30 December 2024. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
33. ^ Bharatvarsh, TV9 (30 December 2024). "Box Office Collection : शाहरुख खान की 'मुफासा' ने 9 दिन में ही छाप लिए 2000 करोड़, 'पुष्पा भाऊ' 25 दिनों में भी नहीं कर पाए ये कमाल". TV9 Bharatvarsh. Retrieved 6 January 2025.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
34. ^ "UI OTT Release Date". Live Mint. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
35. ^ https://www.ottplay.com/news/ui-on-ott-upendra-led-film-strikes-streaming-rights-deal/fb60464f91255

## External links

[edit]

* UI at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Works of Upendra

Director|

* Tharle Nan Maga (1992)
* Shhh! (1993)
* Om (1995)
* Operation Antha (1995)
* Omkaram (1997) (Telugu)
* A (1998)
* Swasthik (1998)
* Upendra (1999)
* Super (2010)
* Uppi 2 (2015)
* UI (2024)

Writer|

* Raa (2001)
* H2O (2002)
* Hollywood (2002)
* Super Star (2002)
* Raktha Kanneeru (2003)
* Katari Veera Surasundarangi (2012)
* Topiwala (2013)

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template