UI censored and ready for December 20; runtime of Upendra directorial revealed

Although there were rumours that UI was not ready for release and that a postponement was on the cards, Upendra and team proved all of it wrong

Upendra in UI

A fortnight ago, there was frenzied speculation on social media that Real Star Upendra’s UI, which had been announced as a December 20 release, would be postponed. For starters, the Christmas week has a lot of films from across languages hitting theatres and second, Kiccha Sudeep’s Max was joining the year-end race. A ‘clash’ between these two big-ticket Kannada films was unlikely, netizens reckoned.

UI censor verdict and runtime

UI producer KP Sreekanth maintained that there was no question of a postponement, amid rumours that the VFX work of the film was not complete. The team paid no heed to any speculation and went about with their work, and by the looks of it, that strategy worked. UI is not only complete, but all set for its date with audiences. The film has been censored and was given a U/A certification. Upendra’s film, which is set in 2040 and addresses several societal evils, is said to be around 150 minutes long, although a source adds that an international cut, at 130 minutes is also ready.

UI: Real Star Upendra to release film with surprise twist for audiences?

Upendra, who returns to direction after nearly a decade with UI, has been tight-lipped about the subject of the film. In his inimitable style, it will be thought-provoking and the filmmaker-actor is hopeful that audiences grasp what he’s trying to say with the film.

UI, which has music by Ajaneesh Loknath, is said to have Upendra in at least 2 roles, if not more – one an oppressor, and the other, a saviour of the masses. Also on the cast are Reeshma Nanaiah and the late filmmaker Guruprasad. Sunny Leone, who has been a part of 3 item numbers in Kannada cinema, is rumoured to be in the film, while Nidhi Subbaiah, Achyuth Kumar, P Ravi Shankar, Sadhu Kokila, Murli Sharma, Cockroach Suddhi, among others, are listed on the cast.

On December 20, UI will have Vijay Sethupathi’s Viduthalai Part 2 and Unni Mukundan’s Marco for company at the box office. The action-packed drama Marco is a pan-India release and will have a Kannada version too. Nagachaitanya’s Tandel is also a December 20 release, as is Akshay Kumar’s Welcome to the Junge.

Upendra’s UI to compete with Barroz, Marco, Viduthalai, Thandel and more

Only 5 days later, Kiccha Sudeep joins in with Max, along with Nithiin’s Robinhood, Varun Dhawan’s Baby John and Mohanlal’s directorial debut, Barroz.

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