Movie: UI
Rating: U DECIDE
Banner: Lahari Films & Venus Entertainers
Cast: Upendra, Reeshma Nanaiah, Sadhu Kokila, Jisshu Sengupta, OAK Sundar, P. Ravi Shankar, Murali Sharma, Indrajit Lankesh, Nidhi Subbaiah, Devaraj, Om Sai Prakash, Achyuth Kumar, and others
Music: B Ajaneesh Loknath
Editor: Vijay Raj BG
Art Director: Shivakumar.J
Stunt: Thriller Manju, Ravi Varma, Chethan D'souza
Produced by: G Manoharan - Sreekanth KP
Written and Directed by: Upendra
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Upendra, the renowned Kannada star, is known for directing many unique and unconventional films. His ideas have always stood apart from the norm. After a long hiatus, he returns to the director’s chair with UI, a film shrouded in mystery as he chose not to reveal its plot through interviews or promotional material.
Let’s delve into what UI signifies and explore the essence of his latest endeavor.
Story:
In a dystopian future, Satya (Upendra), the embodiment of virtue, is imprisoned but strives to bring positive change to the world. In contrast, Kalki (also played by Upendra) seeks to punish humanity for its ignorance and for allowing corrupt leaders to govern instead of taking control themselves.
Kalki promises Vamana Rao (Ravi Kishore), a corrupt politician, that he will make him the 'Central Samrat' and uses destructive tactics to incite public unrest. Kalki's mother, symbolizing nature, passively witnesses her son's acts of devastation.
Who will ultimately triumph—Satya, with his pursuit of righteousness, or Kalki, with his destructive ideology? And what fate awaits humanity in the end?
Artistes’ Performances:
This film is not about conventional performances. Every character, from Upendra’s dual roles to minor ones, is portrayed in a surrealistic manner with intentionally over-the-top acting. As a result, evaluating performances in the usual sense is not applicable here. True to his on-screen persona, Upendra embraces the eccentricity of Kalki, delivering an array of bizarre antics that keep the audience “entertained” in his signature style.
Ravi Shankar brings humor to his role as a politician, while Murali Sharma effectively fulfills his role as a movie critic.
Reeshma Nanaiah’s portrayal, filled with quirky idiosyncrasies, seems to serve as a satirical take on the depiction of female protagonists in mainstream cinema.
Technical Excellence:
Ajaneesh Loknath’s background score is outstanding. Although the two songs he composed lack catchiness, his techno-style background score effectively enhances the film's subject.
The production design, cinematography, visual palette, and editing align seamlessly with Upendra’s vision, creating a cohesive cinematic experience.
Highlights:
The different subject
Upendra’s final message in the climax
Drawback:
Lot of confusing ideas
The first half
Lack of clarity
Analysis
“UI” stands for "You and I." At the start of the film, Upendra uses the censor certificate creatively, assigning the rating UI—Universal Intelligence. He also suggests it can be interpreted as Lord Venkateswara’s Namam or as Panganamam (deception).
The movie begins in a theater where Upendra’s UI is playing. The audience becomes captivated after achieving the "right focus," while a well-known critic, Kiran Adarsh, refrains from posting a review even after watching the film four times, as he struggles to grasp its meaning.
Upendra provocatively warns the audience to leave the theater immediately if they possess intelligence. With this intriguing setup, the film begins. However, as we start acclimating to its eccentric and unconventional narrative, Upendra introduces numerous elements that barely make sense.
The first half drags on, leaving the audience confused and bored. The philosophical concepts presented fail to evolve into an engaging story.
While it’s clear that the film adopts a satirical tone, many segments—such as the Adam and Eve concept, mother nature being violated by mafias, the heroine dreaming of the hero, and a character attempting to escape a trapped mind—feel overextended and perplexing.
It’s only in the final 15–20 minutes that the narrative comes together. The closing moments reveal the film as a sharp satire on the current political system, where parties and leaders manipulate people using religion, caste, region, and culture as divisive tools.
Meanwhile, they exploit public resources while distracting citizens with Instagram reels, Bigg Boss shows, YouTube content, and more.
In the end, Upendra, appearing as a director, tells the audience that they already know the truth and will understand his satirical ideas. However, while some viewers might appreciate the film’s overarching critique, many may find its surreal moments overwhelming and the storytelling frustrating.
Overall, “UI” delivers a political satire in a highly unconventional manner, making it difficult to comprehend, let alone enjoy.
Bottom line: U Decide
PS: It is a challenging task to rate this film, as the experience of watching it is tricky to express..