EmoryFigueroa at 00:20, 7 May 2026

2026-05-07T00:20:12Z

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article

2023-09-21T14:26:24Z

Creating a new article

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{{Infobox film
| name = UI
| image = UI promotional poster.jpg
| caption = Promotional poster
| director = [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]]
| writer =
| screenplay = Upendra
| story =
| producer = G. Manoharan<br/>Sreekanth K. P.
| starring = Upendra<br/>[[Reeshma Nanaiah]]
| narrator =
| cinematography = Prajwal
| editing = Deepu S. Kumar
| music = [[B. Ajaneesh Loknath]]
| studio = Lahari Films<br/>Venus Enterrtainers
| distributor =
| released = December 2023
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| budget = {{estimation}} {{INR|100}} [[crore]]<ref name="ottplay"/>
| gross =
}}

'''''UI''''' is an upcoming Indian [[Kannada]]-language written and directed by [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]], who also stars in the lead role opposite [[Reeshma Nanaiah]]. [[Murali Sharma]], [[Sunny Leone]], [[Nidhi Subbaiah]], Murali Krishna and [[Indrajit Lankesh]] feature in supporting roles. The film is produced by Lahari Films and Venus Enterrtainers.<ref name="teaser">{{cite web |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=Upendra stuns with an audio-only UI teaser |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2023/sep/19/upendra-stuns-with-an-audio-only-ui-teaser-47790.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=19 September 2023}}</ref>

The film was announced in June 2022. The music is composed by [[B. Ajaneesh Loknath]]. It was reported that the makers were aiming for the film's release in December 2023.<ref name="release"/>

== Cast ==
* [[Upendra (actor)|Upendra]]
* [[Reeshma Nanaiah]]
* [[Sunny Leone]]
* [[Murali Sharma]]
* Murali Krishna
* [[Indrajit Lankesh]]
* [[Nidhi Subbaiah]]
* [[Om Sai Prakash]]
* Prashanth Sambargi
* Cockroach Sudhi
* Guruprasad
* Pavan Acharya

== Production ==
=== Development ===
Upendra conceived the story for ''UI'' in the mid-2000s. This was his eleventh film as a director and first since ''[[Uppi 2]]'' (2015).<ref name="toi1">{{cite news |title=Upendra begins to shoot 'UI' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/upendra-begins-to-shoot-ui/articleshow/92535348.cms |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Times of India |date=29 June 2022}}</ref> 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."<ref name="ce1">{{cite web |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=UI transcends language barriers, and addresses a global issue: Upendra |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/interviews/2023/may/31/ui-transcends-language-barriers-and-addresses-a-global-issue-upendra-44067.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=31 May 2023}}</ref> 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 '[[Surrealism|surrealistic]]'".<ref>{{cite web |title=When technology takes over, a certain charm is lost: Upendra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/canvas-of-cinema-is-unlimited-our-imagination-is-limitless-together-we-create-magic-upendra/articleshow/101123580.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=20 June 2023}}</ref> A report stated that the film was reportedly made at a budget of {{INR}}100 [[crore]].<ref name="ottplay">{{cite news |title=UI movie release date: Here's when Upendra's technical marvel is out in theatres |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/ui-movie-release-date-heres-when-upendras-technical-marvel-is-out-in-theatres/9e5ec45584205 |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=OTTPlay |date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230920023821/https://www.ottplay.com/news/ui-movie-release-date-heres-when-upendras-technical-marvel-is-out-in-theatres/9e5ec45584205 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Cast and crew ===
The film was launched on 3 June 2022, and the makers revealed the meaning of the title ''UI'' to be the [[Tilaka|mark]] worn on forehead. G. Manoharan's Lahari Films and K. P. Sreekanth's Venus Enterrtainers were reported to produce the film.<ref name="tnie2">{{cite web |title=UI ,the movie , officially launched in true Uppi style |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2022/jun/04/ui-the-movie-officially-launched-in-true-uppi-style-2461469.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=4 June 2022}}</ref> It was also reported that, alongside Kannada, the film would be released in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|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.<ref name="toi1"/> A month later, actress [[Nidhi Subbaiah]]'s signing was reported.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Nidhi Subbaiah bags a pivotal role in Upendra's UI |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/nidhi-subbaiah-bags-a-pivotal-role-in-upendras-ui/articleshow/92865472.cms |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Times of India |date=14 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=Sunny Leone part of Upendra’s UI? |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2022/nov/30/sunny-leone-part-of-upendras-ui-2523492.html |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The New Indian Express |date=30 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> [[Reeshma Nanaiah]]'s role too was speculated,<ref name="toi2">{{cite web |title=Reeshma Nanaiah to play one of the female leads in Upendra’s ‘UI’ |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/reeshma-nanaiah-to-play-one-of-the-female-leads-in-upendras-ui/articleshow/95956996.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=3 December 2022}}</ref> 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)|''KGF'' film series]] and ''[[Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire]]'', was hired as art director for the film.<ref name="ce1"/> Deepu S. Kumar served as the film's editor,<ref name="tnie3">{{cite web |last1=Sharadhaa |first1=A. |title=Embracing Upendra’s vision, 'UI' faces a challenge at the edit desk |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2023/aug/03/embracing-upendras-vision-ui-faces-a-challenge-at-the-edit-desk-2601307.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=3 August 2023}}</ref> and Prajwal as the cinematographer.<ref name="toi2"/> In June, it was reported that actress Veena Ponnappa, who previously appeared in ''[[Vedha (2022 film)|Vedha]]'' (2022), was cast.<ref>{{cite news |title=Veena Ponappa bags filmmaker Upendra's upcoming project |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/kannada/veena-ponappa-bags-filmmaker-upendras-upcoming-project/articleshow/100989267.cms |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The Times of India |date=14 June 2023}}</ref>

=== Filming and post-production ===
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 (film and TV scenery)|set]], spanning 10 [[acre]]s in area, complemented by extensive [[visual effects]] set [[Compositing|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 [[Virtual reality|VR]]-Mocobot. He added that [[3D body scanning|3D scanning]] of Upendra was made using a setup of more than 200 [[Digital single-lens reflex camera|DSLR cameras]] to create his [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] [[Double (occupation)|double]].<ref name="ce1"/> It was reportedly the Asian film to use this technology.<ref name="ottplay"/> Manohar also revealed that an entire sequence was shot using a virtual reality pipeline.<ref name="ce1"/> Creation technology of [[Industrial Light & Magic]], which was previously employed in ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'' (2022), was also used in the film.<ref name="teaserth1">{{cite web |last1=Bureau |first1=The Hindu |title=‘UI’ teaser: Upendra leaves it to your imagination |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ui-teaser-upendra-leaves-it-to-your-imagination/article67321196.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en-IN |date=18 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="federal">{{cite web |last1=Raghuraman |first1=Shreyas |title=Exclusive: Upendra's 'UI' will have tech used in Avatar: Way of Water |url=https://thefederal.com/entertainment/exclusive-upendras-ui-will-have-tech-used-in-avatar-way-of-water |website=thefederal.com |access-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230920124854/https://thefederal.com/entertainment/exclusive-upendras-ui-will-have-tech-used-in-avatar-way-of-water/ |archive-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=3 January 2023}}</ref> Filming locations included [[Bengaluru]], [[Mysore]] and [[Hyderabad]].<ref name="federal"/>

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.<ref name="tnie3"/> Dubbing began in late August with Upendra voicing for the film's Kannada and Telugu versions.<ref name="release">{{cite news |title=Upendra’s multilingual entertainer 'UI' enters dubbing phase |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2023/aug/30/upendras-multilingual-entertainerui-enters-dubbing-phase-2609846.html |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=The New Indian Express |date=30 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Marketing ==
A concept poster of the film was released by the makers on the day of the film's launch, 3 June 2022. It featured a horse-like animal and other caricatures.<ref name="tnie2"/> On 2 January 2023, a 32-second [[behind-the-scenes]] (BTS) footage was released by the makers.<ref name="federal"/> 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=To Team UI, With Lots Of Love From Director Upendra |url=https://www.news18.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/to-team-ui-with-lots-of-love-from-director-upendra-7704685.html |website=News18 |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en |date=2 May 2023}}</ref> A [[Teaser (trailer)|teaser]] was launched on 18 September, on the occasion of Upendra's birthday. ''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.<ref name="teaser"/> The teaser concluded with a woman's voice proclaiming, "This is not 'AI,' this is 'UI', use your intelligence." A [[double exposure]] picture with the character of Upendra's face on that of a horse was used as thumbnail of the teaser.<ref name="teaserth1"/> It had four million views on [[YouTube]] in 24 hours.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watch: Upendra's 'UI The Movie' teaser clocks 4 million views in a day |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kannada-film-upendra-rao-pan-india-film-ui-the-movie-teaser-released-2438062-2023-09-20 |access-date=20 September 2023 |work=[[India Today]] |date=20 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt23875550}}
{{Upendra}}

[[Category:Upcoming films]]
[[Category:2023 films]]
[[Category:Upcoming Indian films]]
[[Category:Upcoming Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Upendra]]
[[Category:2020s Kannada-language films]]

UI (film) - Revision history

EmoryFigueroa at 00:20, 7 May 2026

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article