UI

Upendra is one my favorite directors. I generally love his vision, his approach to filmmaking and the way he makes the audience think with his themes. UI is no exception. The movie questions your conscience in a typical Upendra style narrative. While all his past movies are set in the real world, UI takes a different a drastically different approach. UI is set in a fictional world that was created by a filmmaker.

You are introduced to this beautiful world where greedy politicians take advantage of the average person for their own gain. As evidenced in the trailer, people are fed media to brainwash them into subservience. How one man rises up to challenge this is what the rest of the movie is about. It'd be a disservice if I said this is the story of the movie as it goes much deeper. It is part satire, part commentary on the workings of current society, the direction humanity is heading in and even the vices that we developed along our evolutionary path going against nature and even hurting it.

It is Upendra's way of communicating this message. The format follows classic Upendra's style reverse screenplay narrative where you are introduced to the climax first. I must say this is the best movie opening act I've watched this year. The movie demands your attention to piece things together and make sense of what's going on. This is not a movie where you go to watch a linear story unfold.

Upendra touches upon the duality of things. Heavily inspired by the "Samkhya" philosophy which talks about the duality of realty. Consciousness, or the spirit, and matter, or the human mind & emotions.

The movie comments on topics like nature, conservancy, greed, politics, humanity, and society in a not-so-subtle manner. There are scenes which may make you feel uncomfortable, mainly because of Ajneesh Lokanath's background music. But the choice of music had Upendra written all over it. After all, that's his motto. A movie should make you feel uncomfortable to make you think.

While the editing could've been better as you will be scratching your head at time, it all makes sense in the end during Act 1. Yes. As I said, the movie goes in reverse for the most part. The part where I said the movie demands your attention is let down a little bit as it could not command my attention due to its editing. While crisp, I did feel the scenes could've been strung together a little better.

As with all Upendra's movies, you will either love it or hate it. But one thing is for sure, they will make you think.

-YT/@CinephileIndia2023.

Upendra's direction and screenwriting is just mind blowing. Only he could make something this creative and unique.

Amazingly made film, great cinematography and has a great message for society.

The VFX is top notch with immersive visuals.

The film holds up a mirror to the society touching upon all modern evils and injustices.

No film has been made yet quite like this.

Upendra is in his best form and on another level altogether.

It is very intellectual in its core ideas and also appeals the mass audience with stylistic action scenes.

The sets are very well built and seem realistic Upendra is charismatic as an actor and just brilliant.

Uppi is back.

After Super, Another extraordinary efforts by Uppi to help us understand " how should we think and react "

Hats off to the thought process of Upendra.

The movie plot is a clear message to help us understand where we are heading in life. What happens if we don't think otherwise.

People who understand the movie will appreciate the movie.

People who don't will give bad reviews for sure.

Relax, sit back and watch the movie peacefully without any expectation, u will get it.

All the best to UI team. Thank you for such a eye opening message u gave us through the movie.

UI = ?

Think just don't judge.

If you judge the movie plot, you may miss the intent.

If you understand the thought process, you may catch the right intent.

If you feel you are puzzled, congratulations you are heading right. Watch it again to understand more better.

Upendra's UI is a cinematic exploration that goes beyond entertainment to provoke critical reflection on the pressing social and global issues of our time. The film doesn't just focus on traditional concerns like corruption, women's safety, and environmental destruction-it expands into areas that are increasingly relevant to today's world.

One such issue is the threat of nuclear weapons. In a time when geopolitical tensions can escalate into potential nuclear conflicts, the film highlights the dangers of these weapons and the urgency of global disarmament. It raises questions about the ethics and long-term consequences of maintaining such destructive power, encouraging viewers to reflect on the need for peace and diplomacy.

The movie also explores the exploitation of natural resources, drawing attention to the growing environmental crisis. Deforestation, pollution, and the depletion of vital ecosystems are depicted as a result of unchecked industrialization and consumerism, urging audiences to rethink their role in preserving the planet.

Another significant issue the film addresses is the increasing divide between rich and poor, with social and economic inequality becoming more pronounced globally. UI explores how systemic imbalances in wealth distribution lead to cycles of poverty, poor access to healthcare and education, and a sense of helplessness for marginalized communities.

In addition, the movie touches on the rise of misinformation and the manipulation of truth in the digital age. With the increasing power of social media and mass communication, the film underscores the importance of critical thinking and responsible information consumption in shaping a more informed and just society.

Through its intricate narrative and layered storytelling, UI urges us to confront these complex issues, reminding us that the choices we make today will define the future for generations to come. It serves as a call to action, motivating viewers to be more mindful of the world around them and the social, political, and environmental challenges that demand our collective attention and responsibility.

Upendra has directed a film which turns the audience wild by dividing them into lovers and detractors. As the support and hate reaches it's peak, the renowned film critic Kiran Adarsh is in a dilemma as he is unable to review the film even after watching it 4 times. He goes in search of Upendra and finds the script he worked on for the film. This takes him on the wild journey through the world's evolution put under a microscope. Is using the story as a mirror to the society is enough or are the audience intelligent enough to know what they want? As the director and his character clash on their ideologies, to drive the story, we audience have been given two choice early on - if you are intelligent, leave now. If you aren't, watch the film till the end.

This is the typical Upendra film which I was waiting for where he tries to narrate the entire world's evolution by minimizing it to a small town and minimum characters to represent the larger section, across race and religion. There is the form of Kalki, determined to end an era after knowing what humans evolution has led to. Only Upendra could reduce the tension between America and Russia down to two wives fighting with each other. The making of the film stands out with his vision coming into life with two ends of the small town having a "brain cell" in the middle. The unreleased Cheap song was an highlight on screen and it is understandable why it wasn't released before. The action scenes though prolonged add to the grandeur but it is the social commentary that stands out, especially in the final act where he rips apart the last 10 years. For the hype, it definitely delivers but the ones expecting beyond Super will be disappointed. Considering the current times, I am very happy that Upendra delivered this.