Upendra's ambitious 'UI' to bow out the 2023 race?

With the teaser of UI, Upendra confirmed that the audience will have to brace themselves for a mad surprise when they do visit the cinemas for the full-length film. The teaser, which was released on September 18, featured nothing but a pitch-black screen with Upendra's voice and a set of diagetic sounds in the background, and those who were keen on catching a visual glimpse were forced to return empty-handed. But, what it does in turn is it raises the intrigue around UI which is billed currently as a super ambitious attempt that is likely to reset the standards in the industry.

So, naturally, there is a lot of anticipation for the film's theatrical release. KP Sreekanth, one of the film's two producers, had shared in his interviews that the entire team is striving hard to bring UI to theatres in 2023, adding that the shooting was almost done with. However, the latest buzz is that the wait for UI may get a tad longer for those who are ardently looking forward to its release.

UI to bow out of the 2023 race?

According to the latest buzz on social media, it is highly likely that Upendra's film will be a 2024 release. The film, as we all know, is being executed at a rather large scale with Uppi, who returns to the director's chair after a long gap, employing several technological innovations to realize his dream. As a result, one gathers that the team involved would require sufficient time to produce the intended results.

Also, with the remainder of 2023 already flooded with big releases from across the country, it might be wise after all on Uppi and Co's part to pick a new date for their film.

The same social media chatter now suggests that the makers of UI could be eyeing an early 2024 spot and charmingly, netizens are in agreement with that decision.

Will the big stars deliver in 2024?

2023 has been the year of ebbs and flows for the Kannada Film Industry which had captured the imagination of the entire country the previous year. While all the big-league stars delivered at the box office in 2022, the last 10-odd months have fared quite differently in that regard, with a majority the major releases this year misfiring.

Upendra's own Kabzaa ended up being a major disappointment and many opined that the film's sequel, which was set to go on floors once the first part released in theatres, should be shelved.

Instead, 2023 has been about authenticity and fresh perspectives as a number of "small" and unassuming films like Orchestra, Mysuru!, Daredevil Musthafa, Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare and Aachar and Co. got the film aficionados talking again. The cumulative box office numbers of these films may not be as flattering as those of KGF 2, Kantara and the kind, but the results are far more encouraging and endearing. So, the focus now shifts on Challenging Star Darshan's Kaatera, UI, Yuva and others.