Harish Shankar’s highly anticipated action drama, Ustaad Bhagat Singh (UBS), has found a second life on digital streaming, but perhaps not the one the filmmakers envisioned. After a lackluster theatrical run that began on March 19, the film premiered on Netflix on April 16, triggering a fresh wave of social media backlash and sarcastic memes from disappointed fans.
The Digital Premiere
Netflix India announced the arrival of the Pawan Kalyan and Sreeleela-starrer with a high-energy trailer cut, releasing the film in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. While the streaming giant attempted to hype the “Power Star” experience, the internet responded with a mix of sharp wit and genuine frustration.
Fans Choose Flops Over UBS
The trolling escalated quickly on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with many users comparing the film unfavorably to Pawan Kalyan’s previous career lows. One viral comment summed up the sentiment:
“I would watch Agnyaathavaasi four times before I watch Ustaad again. I already feel bad for watching it in theaters and wonder how Kalyan Babai even agreed to this.”
Other viewers took a more sarcastic route, “congratulating” the film on being an “Oscar nominee” or the “first Indian movie to gross $1 billion,” while others warned fellow subscribers with comments like, “Vastadu, kani yevaru chudadu” (He will come, but nobody will watch).
Netflix’s Editing Outshines the Original
In an ironic twist, some fans actually praised Netflix—not for the movie itself, but for its marketing. The trailer cut produced by the streamer was seen as superior to the original promotional material released by Mythri Movie Makers.
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Production Criticism: Fans slammed director Harish Shankar, suggesting he focuses more on “Bhajana” (flattery) than quality filmmaking.
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The “Re-edit” Request: One user went as far as asking Netflix to re-edit the entire film to make it more watchable for families.
A Long Road to a Lukewarm Release
The backlash marks a disappointing chapter for a project that began with immense hype. Originally announced in 2021 as Bhavadeeyudu Bhagat Singh, the film was meant to reunite the powerhouse duo behind the 2012 blockbuster Gabbar Singh.
However, following title changes, production delays, and Pawan Kalyan’s increasing political commitments—which eventually led to his appointment as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh—the final product appears to have missed the mark with his core audience. Despite grossing approximately ₹95 crore worldwide, the film continues to struggle to find favor with the “cult” fans it was designed for.
