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UI on OTT: Upendra’s film yet to find digital streaming partner? Producer clarifies

UI on OTT: Upendra’s film yet to find digital streaming partner? Producer clarifies
UI on OTT: Upendra’s film yet to find digital streaming partner? Producer clarifies
Upendra in a poster of UI

Last Updated: 02.26 PM, Feb 04, 2025

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Weeks after Real Star Upendra’s UI released in theatres, there was a strong buzz that the film’s satellite and digital rights had been snapped up by Sun Network, which has several of the actor-filmmaker’s movies in its library. The makers of UI were, however, quick to dispel it and it later emerged that they had a deal with Zee Network. It was then thought that UI would drop on Zee5, but it turns out that Zee Network has only bought the television rights, a deal that was signed several months ago.

Upendra in a poster of UI
Upendra in a poster of UI

Lahari Velu on UI's OTT partner

OTTPlay spoke to Velu of Lahari Films about this and he clarified, “Zee Network has the satellite rights of UI, which they bought 9 months ago. Negotiations are still on for the digital rights and we are hopeful of closing a deal shortly.” Asked if Zee was also a negotiating party, Velu refrained from offering any further information. That leaves Amazon Prime Video as the other possibility. But Velu won’t confirm or deny the possibility, but assures that an announcement about the digital streaming partner will happen shortly.

Zee has not procured streaming rights of any Kannada film since February 2024. Prime Video has been the go-to for Sandalwood, but the platform also does not offer outright purchase anymore, with pay-per-view the most common option. The negotiations, therefore, one reckons, is about the per-minute rate that will be made available to UI. Will UI get Rs 6 or more, per minute, now that it is past the 30-day mark since its theatrical release?

Upendra and Reeshma Nanaiah in a poster of UI
Upendra and Reeshma Nanaiah in a poster of UI

UI, produced by Venus Entertainment and Lahari Films, released in theatres on December 20. While the film had a good opening, it began losing steam at the box office once Kiccha Sudeep’s Max came along 5 days later. The makers have claimed that UI is the highest grossing Kannada film of the year, which, industry trackers have refuted, what with Max registering higher theatrical revenue than the Upendra-led film.

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