Upendra’s much-anticipated dystopian sci-fi film UI has made a solid impression at the box office, despite the initial lack of buzz. The film’s unique statutory warning at the beginning has captured audience attention, contributing to its strong opening.
According to Sacnilk, UI collected ₹6.75 crores in India on its opening day, with a major chunk coming from Karnataka, where it earned ₹6 crores. The Telugu market contributed ₹70 lakhs, while Tamil Nadu and the Hindi regions brought in ₹4 lakhs and ₹1 lakh, respectively.
Regional Occupancy Rates:
- Kannada: UI enjoyed an overall occupancy of 72.44% on its opening day, with evening and night shows peaking at 75% and 89.86%, respectively.
- Telugu: The film achieved a 38.32% overall occupancy, with night shows performing better at 54.66%.
- Tamil: Occupancy remained low at 7.39%, with night shows slightly improving to 17.17%.
Critical Reception:
UI received a 3/5 rating from ETimes, which praised its ambitious intent but highlighted its technical shortcomings. The film alternates between two distinct visual palettes but struggles to create visual harmony, affecting the overall cinematic experience. Upendra’s directorial return after a decade dives deep into philosophical themes, which may resonate more with some viewers than others.
Ajaneesh Loknath’s introduction for Kalki is a standout moment, while the songs “Troll Agatte” and “Cheap Cheap” are criticized for their abrupt placement within the narrative.
UI has successfully sparked conversations with its unique elements, and it remains to be seen how it performs in the coming days.