Uppena (2021)

Uppena 2021: a coastal love story with class at its centre

Uppena 2021 is a Telugu romantic drama and the directorial debut of Buchi Babu Sana, who also wrote it. It is set in a coastal village near Kakinada and follows Aasi, a fisherman, and Bebamma, the daughter of a landowner whose word carries weight in the area.

The film arrived in cinemas on 12 February 2021 with a running time of about 147 minutes, per its Wikipedia entry. It also marks the acting debuts of both lead performers, Panja Vaisshnav Tej and Krithi Shetty, which gives the pairing a fresh-faced quality that suits a young love story.

The central tension is easy to describe without giving anything away: a love that the girl's family sees as socially unacceptable, and a father who intends to defend what he considers his family's honour.

Cast and crew

Vijay Sethupathi plays Sesha Raayanam, the powerful father of the heroine, in a prominent supporting role. Sai Chand appears as Aasi's father, and Gayatri Jayaraman, Rajeev Kanakala and others fill out the cast.

The film was produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings. Music is by Devi Sri Prasad, cinematography by Shamdat Sainudeen and editing by Naveen Nooli. A coastal setting gives a cinematographer plenty to work with, and the soundtrack is a big part of how a romance like this tends to be remembered.

Where to watch Uppena

Netflix bought the digital rights, and the film is reported to have premiered there on 14 April 2021, after earlier dates were announced and then changed. It also had a television premiere on Star Maa a few days later. Streaming catalogues change by country, so confirm availability on the platform before planning a watch.

Things worth knowing before you press play

The film is in Telugu and is a fairly long watch at roughly two and a half hours, so it suits an evening when you can settle in. The dialogue and songs carry regional flavour of the Godavari coast, and subtitles on the streaming platform can help non-Telugu viewers follow the lyrics. Because the story deals with caste-and-class pressure in a close-knit community, it is not a purely light watch, though we avoid saying more to keep the story intact.

What to expect

Expect an emotional, village-rooted romance rather than a light rom-com. Critics were reported to have been mixed on it, with at least one noting that the story is predictable but well executed. If you like romances where social pressure, not misunderstanding, is the obstacle, this is the territory it works in.