Upendra Unveils ‘Gangs of UK’: Ravi Srivatsa’s Battle-Tested Grit Hits the Big Screen

Real Star Upendra recently launched the trailer and songs of Gangs of UK, praising Ravi Srivatsa as a filmmaker who consistently infuses raw emotion into his cinema. “Every filmmaker has battles, but I sense a positive energy around this film,” he said, extending heartfelt wishes to the team.

For Srivatsa, the journey was anything but easy. Inspired by a chilling real-life incident at Pillari Falls in Bagalkot, the film initially faced rejection from the Regional Censor Board, which objected to its violent tone. Calling the verdict unfair, Srivatsa said the officials hadn’t even assessed the film properly. It was only after appealing to the Revising Committee that the movie finally secured its clearance — a hard-fought victory for the team.

With the tagline “Blood leaves its mark, and determination travels from one person to another,” Gangs of UK explores themes of vengeance and resilience. Co-written with MS Ramesh, the story is rooted in the Bagalkot setting, which Ramesh admitted stirred memories of his mentor, KV Raju.

The film features Amogh (son of KV Raju), Orata Prashanth, Jyothi Shetty, Kote Prabhakar, Padma Vasanthi, Sonu Upadhya, Ugram Reddy, and Tankasale Umesh, alongside several local talents. Produced under Srivatsa’s Deadly Arts banner in partnership with LN Reddy, the project carries strong emotional ties and industry legacy.

Actor Muni, who plays Kaala, shared his experience of braving the region’s sweltering heat, while Kote Prabhakar and Orata Prashanth recalled candid moments from the sets. At the launch, industry veterans like K Manju, Umesh Banakar, and Thriller Manju praised Srivatsa’s resilience, hailing Gangs of UK as a powerful, uncompromising work.