Uppena

Uppena (transl. High tide) is an upcoming 2021 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by debutant Bucchi Babu Sana. The film is produced by Sukumar in collaboration with Naveen Yerenini and Y. Ravi Shankar, under their respective banners Sukumar Writings and Mythri Movie Makers. The film features debutants Panja Vaisshnav Tej and Krithi Shetty in the lead roles, with Vijay Sethupathi playing a prominent role.

"Krithi Shetty" redirects here. For the unrelated Tamil actress of the same name, see Advaitha (actress).

Uppena
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBucchi Babu Sana
Produced byNaveen Yerenini
Y. Ravi Shankar
Sukumar
Written byBucchi Babu Sana
StarringPanja Vaisshnav Tej
Krithi Shetty
Vijay Sethupathi
Music byDevi Sri Prasad
CinematographyShamdat
Edited byNaveen Nooli
Production
company
Release date
  • 12 February 2021 (2021-02-12)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹22 crore[1]

The film is reportedly set in the backdrop of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, based on honor killings.[2] After a launch ceremony on January 2019, the makers commenced the principal shoot in May 2019, with film being shot in Kakinada, Hyderabad, Puri, Kolkata and Gangtok and wrapped up in January 2020.[3] The music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with cinematography and editing performed by Shamdat and Naveen Nooli respectively.[4]

The film was originally slated to release on 2 April 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is scheduled to release theatrically on 12 February 2021.[5]

Cast

Production

Development

In mid-October 2018, Sukumar decided to back the project of the untitled film, helmed by his assistant Bucchi Babu Sana, in his directorial debut.[6] Mythri Movie Makers, eventually announced their collaboration with Sukumar Writings, the director's home banner, to co-produce the film.[7] The makers roped Panja Vaisshnav Tej, brother of actor Sai Dharam Tej, and also a member of the Allu-Konidela family, to play the lead role, eventually marking his debut in film industry, and Sukumar's regular collaborator Devi Sri Prasad, was roped in to score music for the film.[6][8]

The film is reportedly set in backdrop of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, and deals with the issue of honor killings,[9] with Vaisshnav Tej, essaying the role of a fisherman.[9] On 6 May 2019, the makers revealed the film's title as Uppena.[10] Initially, the makers claimed that the film was tentatively titled Jalari, although the title Uppena was finalised and registered it in the Film Chamber.[11]

Casting

In March 2019, Vijay Sethupathi was roped in to play the antagonist,[12] in his second Telugu film after Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy.[2] In April 2019, the production house confirmed his inclusion in the film.[13] Sethupathi was reported to play the heroine's father in the film.[14][15] Initially debutant actress Manisha Raj, was announced as the lead actress during the film's launch event.[16] However, the makers approached another teenage debutant Devika Sanjay (of Njan Prakashan fame), to play the lead role opposite Tej.[17] In May 2019, the makers roped in Mangalore-based Krithi Shetty, to make her debut through this film.[18] In July 2019, sources claimed that Vijay Sethupathi walked out of the project, and the reason was not disclosed.[19] However, the rumours turned out to be false.[20]

Filming

The launch event of the film was held on 21 January 2019,[16] at the office of Mythri Movie Makers,[21] with Vaisshnav Tej's relatives, actors Chiranjeevi, Nagendra Babu, Allu Arjun and Sai Dharam Tej gracing the event.[22] Four months, later the principal photography of the film started in 25 May 2019.[23] The film was shot for 30 days in Kakinada.[9] On 21 August 2019, Vijay Sethupathi joined the sets and it was reported that 40 percent of the film was completed.[24] The film's first schedule was shot in Hyderabad, which was completed within late-September 2019, and second schedule took place in October 2019 at Puri, Kolkata and Gangtok.[20] In January 2020, the makers completed the shooting of the film and started post-production work.[25]

Soundtrack
Uppena
Soundtrack album by
Devi Sri Prasad
Recorded2019–2020
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length15:33
LanguageTelugu
LabelAditya Music
ProducerDevi Sri Prasad
Devi Sri Prasad chronology
Sarileru Neekevvaru
(2020)		 Uppena
(String Module Error: Target string is empty)		 Good Luck Sakhi
(2020)
Singles from Uppena
  1. "Nee Kallu Neeli Samudram"
    Released: 2 March 2020
  2. "Dhak Dhak Dhak"
    Released: 9 March 2020
  3. "Ranguladhukkuna"
    Released: 11 November 2020
  4. "Jala Jala Jalapaatham Nuvvu"
    Released: 31 January 2021
  5. "Eswara"
    Released: 6 February 2021

Sukumar's regular collaborator Devi Sri Prasad was signed on to compose the film's soundtrack album and background score. A glimpse of the first single "Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram" was unveiled on 1 March 2020, and the full song was released by Aditya Music the following day, on 2 March 2020. The song was penned by Sri Mani with Hindi lyrics were written by Raqueeb Alam and sung by Javed Ali and Srikanth Chandra.[26] It was well received by the audience, and its lyrical video, which released on the video-sharing platform YouTube, crossed 100 million views as of August 2020.[27][28] The second single "Dhak Dhak Dhak" was released on 9 March 2020, which was written by Chandrabose and sung by Sarath Santhosh and Hari Priya.[29] On 11 November 2020, Mahesh Babu unveiled the third single "Ranguladhukkuna" through social media platforms.[29] Sung by Yazin Nizar and Hari Priya, it is touted to be a soothing melody number.[30] The fourth song "Jala Jala Jalapaatham Nuvvu" sung by Jaspreet Jasz and Shreya Ghoshal, was released by Vijay Devarakonda on 31 January 2021.[31]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram"Sri Mani, Raqueeb AlamJaved Ali, Sreekanth Chandra5:12
2."Dhak Dhak Dhak"ChandraboseSarath Santosh, Hari Priya1:45
3."Ranguladhukkuna"Sri ManiYazin Nizar, Hari Priya4:23
4."Jala Jala Jalapaatham Nuvvu"Sri ManiShreya Ghoshal, Jaspreet Jasz4:13
5."Eswara"ChandraboseDevi Sri Prasad3:28

Release

Uppena was originally scheduled for a theatrical release on 2 April 2020,[25] on the occasion of Rama Navami.[32] But the release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India.[33] In May 2020, the makers reported that the film will be scheduled for a theatrical release,[34] and refuted rumours of releasing through OTT platforms,[35] although digital rights of the film were sold to Netflix.[36] After theatres began operating with 50% occupancy, the makers announced a release date of 12 February 2021, which falls on the Valentine's Day weekend.[37][38]

References
  1. Vyas (29 March 2020). "Sukumar fine-tunes Uppena script?". The Hans India. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. "Vijay Sethupathi has been roped into play antagonist in this Telugu film - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. "Pic Talk: First look of Krithi Shetty from Panja Vaisshnav Tej's Uppena - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  4. "అఫీషియల్.. 'ఉప్పెన'లా వస్తోన్న వైష్ణవ్ తేజ్". Telugu Samayam. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  5. "ఉప్పెన రిలీజ్‌ డేట్‌ ఫిక్స్‌.. థియేటర్లలో సందడి!". Sakshi (in Telugu). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. "Devi Sri Prasad to compose music for both Sai Dharam Tej and his brother Vaishnav Tej's upcoming films - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. "Mythri Movie Makers to join hands with MM Keeravani's sons? - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  8. "Devi Sri Prasad to compose for Vaisshnav Tej's debut film! - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. "Vijay Sethupathi to begin shooting for 'Uppena' in August". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. "Panja Vaisshnav Tej's debut film titled Uppena". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. "Confirmed! Panja Vaishnav Tej's debut film titled 'Uppena' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. "Vijay Sethupathi signs his second film in Telugu - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. "Vijay Sethupathi signs his second film in Telugu - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  14. "Vijay Sethupathi to be seen as a heroine's father in a Telugu film? - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. "Vijay Sethupathi in Panja Vaisshnav Tej's debut film". Indian Express. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  16. "Vaishnav Tej's debut film launched". Zee News. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. "Teenage Beauty Devika Sanjay in talks for Vaishnav Tej's film - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  18. "Mangalore belle Krithi Shetty to debut opposite Panja Vaisshnav Tej in 'Uppena' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  19. "Kollywood star Vijay Sethupathi walks out of Panja Vaisshnav Tej's maiden film 'Uppena'? - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. Vyas (21 October 2019). "'Uppena' team is all set for their second shooting schedule". The Hans India. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  21. "Panja Vaisshnav Tej's debut film launched". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  22. "Entire Mega clan sans Pawan & Charan grace the launch of Vaishnav Tej's debut - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. "Mangalore belle Krithi Shetty to debut opposite Panja Vaisshnav Tej in 'Uppena'". Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  24. Kumar, Gabbeta Ranjith (21 August 2019). "Vijay Sethupathi joins the sets of Uppena". The Indian Express. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  25. "'Uppena' first look poster out, to hit marquee on April 2". The News Minute. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  26. "Uppena: First lyrical Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram from Panja Vaisshnav Tej's debut film unveiled - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  27. "Panjaa Vaishnav Tej's Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram song from Uppena gets 100 million views on YouTube - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  28. "Devi Sri Prasad's Nee Kannu Neeli Samudram from Uppena amasses 100 million views". www.zoomtventertainment.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  29. "Mahesh Babu to release 'Uppena' song on THIS date! - Malayalam News". IndiaGlitz.com. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  30. "Mahesh Babu to release Ranguladdhukunna song from Uppena on November 11 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  31. "Vijay Deverakonda releases Jala Jala Jalapaatham from Uppena - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  32. "Uppena First Look: Panja Vaisshnav Tej looks intense in his debut film; release date out - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  33. "Corona virus brings Tollywood to a standstill - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  34. "Uppena: Vaisshnav Tej and Krithi Shetty starrer not to have an OTT release? Here's what we know". PINKVILLA. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  35. World, Republic. "'Uppena' might release in theatres, to not go ahead with OTT release?". Republic World. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  36. "Talk- Sukumar's Uppena sold to Netflix?". 123telugu.com. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  37. "Vaisshnav Tej's Uppena to release on February 12; Devi Sri Prasad's BGM is expected to create magic". PINKVILLA. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  38. "'Acharya' to 'RRR': Here are the release dates of 15 Tollywood films coming out in 2021". The News Minute. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
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