PremiumUI show allocation in Hyderabad has netizens up in arms
Compared to the number of shows Pushpa 2 was given in Bengaluru, Upendra’s UI has been given a minute fraction in Hyderabad
Upendra in UI
Last Updated: 07.27 PM, Dec 19, 2024
On December 20, Real Star Upendra’s newest directorial, UI releases across the world in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi. Upendra has done a lot of promotional activities in Hyderabad, given that he has a sizeable fan following in the neighbouring Telugu-speaking states. And yet, when shows were allocated in Hyderabad, the number left netizens appalled.
Netizens cite disparity in show allocation for Telugu films in Bengaluru and Kannada films in Hyderabad
As of last count on the evening of December 19, UI’s Telugu version had around 130-odd shows in Hyderabad, while the Kannada original got 7. This is in stark contrast to the absolute box office domination unleashed by Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 in Bengaluru. The film had opened with a whopping 1,300-odd shows in Bengaluru alone. According to a source, a clause from the distributor of Pushpa 2 to exhibitors in Bengaluru has been cited as reason for multiplexes back home not opening UI with early morning shows.
The low show count notwithstanding, the response has been good, with the city recording 5 fast-filling shows for the Telugu version and 1 for the Kannada original in the evening of December 19. Meanwhile, the film’s current status in Chennai is far worse, with only 6 shows open for the Tamil dubbed version, and just as many for Kannada. Kerala has 2 shows, one in Tamil and one in Kannada, with no Malayalam-dubbed version.
Not long ago, Sriimurali's Bagheera was also given only a handful of shows in Hyderabad.
The response to the advance bookings in Karnataka, meanwhile, has been good, with the early morning shows largely sold out. Audiences are eager to see what Upendra brings to the table this time, considering that he has been so guarded about the film. It does, however, come on the back of his last, Uppi 2, which had failed to enthuse audiences.
Upendra on UI: Everyone will understand the basic plot, but decoding the layers is up to each person
The actor-filmmaker has said that while his story-telling is layered and that each person’s perception could be varied, he has presented it as a straight-forward commercial film that can be enjoyed even without giving it much thought.