Kathal: Where To Watch Sanya Malhotra's National Award-Winning Film

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Sanya Malhotra's Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery won big at the 71st National Film Awards. If you haven't yet watched the satirical drama, here's your cue to stream it.
Sanya Malhotra's Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery has won the prestigious National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards. The press conference was held on August 1 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It was organised to recognise the excellence in Indian cinema for the year 2023. The announcement was made in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State L Murugan and I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju. The ceremony was also live streamed for the public.
Before Kathal receives the National Award at a ceremony scheduled later this year, now is the perfect time to revisit or discover this unique film. If you haven't yet watched the satirical drama, here's your cue to stream it. Below is everything you need to know about where to watch Kathal, and why it's a film that truly deserved the honour.
Where To Watch Kathal
Directed by Yashowardhan Mishra and written by Ashok Mishra, Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery premiered directly on Netflix on May 19, 2023. Bypassing the traditional theatrical route, the film proved that meaningful storytelling, strong performances, and a bold narrative can resonate deeply with audiences, even through an OTT release.
Since its premiere, the film steadily built a strong word-of-mouth following on the streaming platform, praised for both its social relevance and its distinct tone. And now, after clinching a National Award, it stands tall as one of the most important Hindi films of recent years. If you're yet to watch it, it's available to stream anytime on Netflix.
Kathal Plot
Set in the fictional town of Moba, Kathal follows the story of Inspector Mahima Basor, brilliantly portrayed by Sanya Malhotra, who is assigned to solve the odd case of two jackfruits stolen from the garden of MLA Pateria. While the premise looks lighthearted and filled with comic elements, the narrative is so layered that it gradually unravels weightier themes such as caste discrimination, systematic negligence and human trafficking.
Why Kathal Stands Out
What makes Kathal more than just another quirky comedy is how it quietly holds up a mirror to our system, without ever losing its sense of humour. At the heart of it is Sanya Malhotra, playing a young police officer who isn't just dealing with a bizarre case of stolen jackfruits, but also the everyday weight of being a woman in uniform from a marginalised background.
Through her, the film explores how deeply personal professional struggles can feel when you're constantly being underestimated or dismissed. But Kathal doesn't go down the heavy-handed route. Instead, it lets absurdity do the talking.
Watching an entire police force scramble to recover two jackfruits for a powerful politician, while cases involving missing girls are barely acknowledged, feels oddly familiar and that's where the satire hits hard. The humour isn't just there for laughs; it's used smartly to point out what we, as a society, have come to accept without question.
Kathal stands out because it chooses to be funny and fearless at the same time. It entertains, yes, but more importantly, it nudges you to think.
Alongside starring Sanya Malhotra in the lead role, Kathal features Anant V Joshi, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav and Brijendra Kaka in other significant roles.
Directed by Yashowardhan Mishra and written by Ashok Mishra the film is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor, Guneet Monga and Achin Jain under the banners of Balaji Motion Pictures and Sikhya Entertainment.
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