UI movie Day 1 Karnataka box office: Upendra film takes big opening; falls short of double-digit gross

UI movie Day 1 Karnataka box office: An Upendra directorial that comes 9 years after his last, UI took a good opening in Karnataka

Upendra in UI

Real Star Upendra’s UI released in theatres on December 20 and broke Kaatera’s record of highest online ticket sales on Day 1. UI, according to industry trackers, registered 1,10,000 ticket sales on a popular aggregator site, pushing Kaatera to second spot at 1,05,000. Released by KVN Productions in Karnataka, UI was targeting in the vicinity of 225 to 250 screens in the state, with the final count said to be closer to the lower figure.

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Despite this ‘limited’ release, given that Pushpa 2 is still holding on to a lot of screens, UI had a phenomenal opening. Industry trackers reckon that the film grossed a little over Rs 7 core in the state, which could have been in double digits if it had a wider release. Rs 7.28 crore is what the film has made on Day 1, with ticket rates in the range of Rs 150 – Rs 350 on average, across single-screens and multiplexes.

Given that UI is Upendra’s newest directorial, which comes 9 years after his last, Uppi 2, there was a lot of intrigue surrounding the film, with fans of his brand of cinema eagerly waiting for the release. The film, though, has left hardcore fans divided in their opinion, as the filmmaker-actor departed from his trademark satire and social commentary in an entertaining narrative and instead chose to focus only on the former.

The film is told from the perspective of a movie critic, who has been unable to get a hang of director Upendra’s latest film despite multiple viewings. He then sets out to find Upendra, but instead stumbles upon the script that the filmmaker had been working on, which he discards to make an ultra-realistic film instead. What that script entails forms the crux of UI.

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Upendra is seen in 2 roles and a cameo (as himself) and is joined by P Ravi Shankar, Medini Kelamane, Reeshma Nanaiah, Sadhu Kokila, late Guruprasad, among others, on the cast.

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