Upendra’s UI OTT release delayed for lack of buyers?

When Kannada cinema’s Real Star Upendra’s much-hyped directorial UI came out, it made some money at the box office because of the narrative around it that it was a film for ‘intelligent people’ only. Social media was flooded with posts about the various layers in his narrative and the significance of each, with audiences almost in a race to prove how smart they are. The film, though, was not difficult to understand, as was being made out – Upendra was, after all, spoon-feeding audiences and after the initial frenzy and the arrival of Kiccha Sudeep’s Max, footfalls began to drop drastically.

Two months since UI TV premiere, no sign of OTT release

Max, of course, did far better at the box office, and was the first among the two to announce a subsequent TV outing, which then became a simultaneous TV and OTT release. Around the same time, UI’s TV debut was also announced by the same platform, so, it was assumed that it would follow in the footsteps of Max and the Telugu film Sankrantikhi Vasthunam. But in UI’s case, all it got was a festive (Ugadi) TV premiere.

Almost two and a half months after the TV premiere and nearly six months since the theatrical release, UI is still not on OTT and the buzz in Sandalwood circles is that the film remains unsold. Netizens reckon that it is because UI's reviews were far from positive and that high-definition pirated prints were leaked during its theatrical run and subsequently after the television premiere as well.

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Prior to the TV outing, it was reported that UI might be picked up by Sun Network, given that most of Upendra’s directorials are on the platform. But then the makers clarified that it was not the TV or OTT destination. Now that Zee Network has not taken it, will any other platform show interest? Sun NXT is known to pick up Kannada movies once their exclusive deals with Prime Video run out. Let’s wait and watch if any OTT does focus on UI!