Upendra

Upendra

Year: 1999

Runtime: 138 mins

Language: Kannada

RomanceThriller

Honest Naanu, married to Swathi, finds his steady life upended when the determined Rathi pursues him and compels him to accept her affection. Meanwhile, his lingering obsession with his former love Keerthi resurfaces, forcing him to grapple with loyalty, truth, and competing desires.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Upendra (1999)

Trace every key event in Upendra (1999) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Betala opens the tale to Vikramāditya

Betala begins narrating the puzzling tale to Vikramāditya, introducing Naanu and the entangled story of three women. He frames the tale as a meditation on ego, truth, and hypocrisy, hinting at a moral reckoning to come. The narrative then shifts from Betala's frame into Naanu's world.

Frame Betala's chamber
2

Naanu's childhood truth-teller

From childhood, Naanu hates hypocrisy and speaks the truth without flinching. He quickly earns a reputation for exposing hidden pretenses, unsettling those who prefer comfort over honesty. This unflinching honesty sets the course for his later entanglements with love and wealth.

Childhood Naanu's hometown
3

Rathi's encounter with hypocrisy

A young woman named Rathi is drawn into the tale as a swami’s hypocrisy is exposed by Upendra, revealing his open disdain for his daughter. The episode lays bare the sting of religious hypocrisy and family power dynamics. Rathi’s perception of truth and trust starts to waver and sharpen.

Early Rathi's environment / swami's ashram
4

Rathi falls for Naanu

Rathi falls in love with Naanu, captivated by his fearless candor. Their romance unfolds against a backdrop of faith and family tensions that threaten to pull them apart. The connection marks a turning point in Naanu's pursuit of belonging and affection.

Early Town / meeting place
5

Keerthi's wealth plan sparks conflict

Naanu schemes to win over Keerthi, a billionaire whose wealth will be inherited by her husband. He prints wedding cards and distributes them to many, including Keerthi's employees, trying to prove his commitment. Keerthi grows angry as the plan threatens her wealth and autonomy.

Prelude to wedding Keerthi's establishments
6

The attack and Swathi's torture

Keerthi's ally, Marimuthu's son, attacks Naanu to derail his plans and tortures a woman living in Naanu's house. Naanu rushes to Swathi’s rescue, discovering she is actually his wife. The assault exposes the fragility of the relationships and the lengths people will go to control him.

After card distribution Naanu's house / surrounding streets
7

Rathi and Swathi clash over Naanu

Rathi confronts Naanu and confirms Swathi is his wife, threatening to kill Swathi, Keerthi, and herself if he leaves any of them. Naanu agrees to stay, and Swathi leaves briefly, testing loyalties and boundaries. The confrontation deepens the love-triangle’s danger and complexity.

Soon after the rescue Meeting place
8

Swathi's return and ongoing deception

Swathi later rescues the couple from Keerthi's henchmen and, at Naanu's urging, returns. She again threatens to kill Rathi and Keerthi if Naanu leaves her, and Naanu pleads to keep the arrangement intact. The relationships remain tangled as Naanu juggles two women who both claim his loyalty.

Mid-stage Naanu's life and harbor area
9

The hidden affair and mounting obsession

Naanu continues his relationship with Rathi while concealing it from Swathi, and Swathi remains entangled in danger and affection. His lingering fixation on Keerthi intensifies the triangle, pulling multiple loyalties toward a breaking point. The web of deceit becomes increasingly perilous.

Mid-stage Various locales
10

Keerthi's acceptance and Marimuthu's downfall

Naanu traps Marimuthu, and Keerthi eventually agrees to marry him, seemingly giving him access to wealth and influence. The arrangement appears to stabilize his ambitions but only deepens the underlying conflicts. The coming days threaten broader consequences for everyone involved.

Build-up to harbor scene Marimuthu's domain
11

Harbor confrontation and kidnapping

Rathi and Swathi learn of Naanu's marriage to Keerthi and hurry to the harbor where the trio hides from Marimuthu's henchmen. Keerthi withdraws after learning of the plans, and Naanu abducts all three women, while Marimuthu and his son are killed in the ensuing chaos. The harbor becomes a crucible where loyalties fracture and fates hinge on fear and power.

Climax Harbor
12

Old building, riches, and the party

The quartet converges on an old building hosting a lavish party. Gopala, a wealthy man, is revealed to have been advised by Naanu to seek money rather than chasing women. The scene juxtaposes wealth with moral danger, hinting at the consequences of power and desire. The tension between fortune and fidelity fuels the escalating drama.

After harbor Old building
13

Gopala and the moral crossroads

A wealthy observer watches as wealth corrupts relationships, mirroring the downfall of a man once rich but ruined by his girlfriends. Naanu faces a stark moral test: chase wealth or reform his path. The women’ s presence intensifies the stakes as they weigh interventions.

After harbor Old building
14

The ego verdict

Betala interrupts the tale and asks Vikramāditya to decide whether Naanu would survive this test. Vikramāditya reveals the allegory: Naanu, Rathi, Swathi, and Keerthi symbolize ego, beauty, responsibilities, and money. The fateful conclusion declares that the self must die and be reborn.

Meta moment Frame within Betala and Vikramāditya
15

Naanu's rebirth of self

The narrative returns to Naanu, who gazes at his reflection and resolves to shed his ego. He tears the shirt bearing his own face, and the three women disappear. In the rain, he walks forward as a humbled man ready to begin anew without the tyranny of I.

End Old building / street after rain

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:25

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