Upendra finally unveils first look of UI

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: After a long wait, fans of Upendra were finally treated to the first look of his upcoming directorial venture UI. He returned to direction after nearly a decade.

His last film as director was Uppi 2 in 2015. He had not directed films for five after Super in 2010. He had not directed any movie between 2000 and 2010 as well.

His prolific film making was between 1992 and 1999 when he directed eight films.

UI is his eleventh film as director and not surprisingly fans are eagerly waiting for this offering. Upendra has disclosed that the upcoming movie will see a release in eight different languages.

This revelation unfolded during the debut presentation of the film's initial glimpse, orchestrated by the Telugu producer Allu Aravind and Sandalwood luminary Shiva Rajkumar.

Allu Aravind praised the opulence showcased in the first look, expressing his amazement, "The first look's two minutes exceed expectations. When I questioned producer Manohar about the expenditure, he clarified that Upendra's commitment to the film goes beyond financial investment. Today, that dedication is apparent. I assure him that the promotional efforts in Kannada will be echoed in Telugu."

Shiva Rajkumar, known for the iconic collaboration with Upendra in "Om," underscored Upendra's directorial distinctiveness, reminiscing about their past projects, specifically highlighting "Shh" as an outstanding film.

Commending Upendra's work ethic, he shared insights into the director's dedication, saying, "Refusing to waste a single moment, he would blend everything on his plate and consume it all in one go during lunch" Upendra, maintaining secrecy about the specifics, conveyed, "I have always believed that the creator shouldn't speak; it's the audience who should. In one film, I had this dialogue: there are three phases in a person’s life. In the first, he believes he is right and the world is wrong. The second, where he thinks the world is right and he is wrong. I've made films in each of the phases. This film embodies the third phase, where a person realizes both the world and himself were right. It's my first film in the third phase."