UI review: This vintage Upendra brain teaser is a mixed bag

UI marks Upendra’s return to direction after a decade. The film uses a meta approach of a film within a film, where Upendra has made a new film titled UI that has left the minds baffled.

A noted journalist and reviewer chooses to go in search of Upendra to understand the film better before he reviews it.

When he chances upon the original manuscript that was meant to be burnt by Upendra but has been salvaged by a caretaker of the home, we get to enter the world of UI and what Upendra has to say.

A more engaging first half

To its merit, the film has all that one expects from an Upendra film right in the beginning. From shocking reactions that include people coming out of a closet to even giving up all their worldly possessions after watching the film within the film, there is enough to baffle the audience.

Additionally, there are quirky one-liners that tell the audience to leave if they are intelligent and stay till the end if they are foolish, and immediately Upendra shares in his style that the intelligent ones think they are fools and vice versa. These make one chuckle and bring back memories for those who have grown up on a heady dose of Upendra’s style of cinema.

The first half showcases a world of godmen, corrupt leaders, class disparity and a man named Sathya living amongst them, who aims to create a Utopian world. As one gets to about the birth and back story of Sathya, and an alter ego persona of his named Kalki, the lead-up to the interval gets interesting.

One sees a grand revelation and a flashback portion involving the character played by Medini which is probably one of the best portions of the film, filled with metaphors and symbolism. Thus, the film is neatly poised in the second half.

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A faltering second half

One of the biggest USPs of Upendra’s films is how he manages to get his message across but never shies away from giving the commercial audience their money’s worth.

The second half of this film does have a heady dose of Upendra’s philosophies, but the measure of commercial appeal expected from a film like this is lacking.

The second half has some interesting moments of the you (U) and I philosophy that is told in both literal and figurative ways through two parallel narratives.

But the grand climax and the visuals of the much anticipated “Cheap” song are a big letdown. This underwhelming end might not work for all, as it leaves more scope for befuddlement rather than dialogue or introspection.

An Upendra show all the way

The film boasts a big cast, but it is pretty much an out-and-out Upendra show. He entertains as both Sathya and Kalki, while people might seem to take to the latter more easily because of the over-the-top characterisation and nature of the role.

There is little scope for all characters and one might feel several talented individuals have been shortchanged. Upendra’s heroines have always had a good character graph, but one does not see much meat in the way the leading lady’s role has been fleshed out here.

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Technical mixed bag

The film has some good writing when it comes to dialogues and songs in vintage Upendra style, which makes the theatrical worth it for those who like that aspect. But, the visual effects in certain parts of the film do not sit right and overpower the narrative at times.

The dystopian world sequence which was also partially showcased in the film’s trailer is one of the highlights and is an interesting part of the narrative.

Final take

Upendra has his touch in many ways when it comes to his commentary on the current system and it is seen through his writing in this film.

With age, though, the angst seen in his earlier films seems to have mellowed down and this film’s like more of a discourse in a measured tone.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)