The return of the esteemed filmmaker Upendra to the director's chair after almost ten years has captured the attention of Kannada audiences, eager to discover his latest contributions to cinema. Upendra is well-known for his films that deliver impactful socio-political commentary, often presented in an exaggerated style. His latest work, titled UI, premiered on December 20, attracting a significant number of viewers to theatres. However, reports soon emerged indicating that the film had polarized audiences; while some appreciated its messages, others criticized it for being overly didactic and lacking in entertainment.

UI's first-weekend box office performance in Karnataka

The film maintained its strong performance over the weekend, with various box office trackers reporting that it achieved the highest opening weekend revenue for a Kannada film in 2024. The estimated gross for UI's first weekend is between Rs 18 crore and Rs 20 crore. One tracker even claims that the film surpassed the Rs 20 crore threshold, estimating a collection of Rs 21 crore to Rs 23 crore in Karnataka alone, while another source cites this amount as the worldwide gross following the first weekend. It is important to note that none of these figures have been officially confirmed by the production team.

Following an impressive opening weekend, UI experienced a significant decline on Day 4, which was anticipated due to it being a weekday and the likelihood that holiday-goers may have embarked on vacations. Nevertheless, the film continues to perform well, despite the commencement of bookings for Kiccha Sudeep’s upcoming release, Max, scheduled for December 25. Notably, the ticket sales for the first weekend on an aggregator platform are projected to be approximately 426,000, marking the highest figure for a Kannada film this year.

Analysts are still working to ascertain the break-even point for UI, as the production team has not disclosed the film’s final budget. Reports vary widely, estimating the budget to be between Rs 60 crore and Rs 100 crore. Trackers believe that a first weekend gross of Rs 25 crore would have positioned the film securely, but it has fallen slightly short of this target.

The performance of UI over the next few weeks is of significant importance, particularly as it coincides with the release of Max. By the second week of January, major films associated with Sankranti and Pongal will start to premiere. This urgency is reflected in KVN Productions' strategy, as they have enlisted Rocking Star Yash and Kiccha Sudeep to participate in a celebrity event to promote the Upendra-directed film in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, reports from the Telugu states indicate that UI has been doing well there, with screen counts increased over the weekend. Box office figures are yet to be revealed. 

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