Uppena

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]

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]

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]