‘Kapata Nataka Sutradhari' trailer: Dhiraj MV and team promise a relevant religious satire
The film's trailer, which dropped on June 19, 2025, gained praise for its fresh treatment of a hot topic in today's India. The trailer shows a temple, in which devotees diligently follow the practice of crawling under an elephant idol. It is believed that prayers of those who follow this custom will be answered.
One day, all hell breaks loose when an overweight boy gets stuck below the idol, and it is revealed that he is a Muslim. The trailer then showcases the confusion and chaos around the incident in a humorous manner.
'The agenda of the film is not to offend any community. What happens if a small incident gets a religious angle? I wanted to explore this idea,' Dhiraj says.
The teaser begins with the quote, 'Left blames right. Right blames left. Nothing moves forward.' Kapata Nataka Sutradhari seems to touch themes such as the effect of political ideologies on society, patriarchy and gender. The debutant filmmaker adds that he sent drafts of his script to senior journalists and people from the film fraternity as part of his research.
ALSO READ:'X&Y' movie review: Satya Prakash's human drama is an audacious attempt
'We didn't want to provoke people who believe in any particular ideology. I was handling a sensitive topic, and I had to convince my team members that I can execute my idea. That was one of the major challenges,' explains Dhiraj.
Having assisted filmmakers such as Guruprasad and Sunil Kumar Desai, Dhiraj always aimed to make a relatable yet entertaining movie. 'I identify myself as a frustrated film buff. Most of the time, I cannot relate to what I see on the screen. So, when I was directing a film, I wanted to pick a relatable topic and convey it in an engaging manner.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Kapata Nataka Sutradhari Movie Review: A sharp political satire that hits home
When satire is done right, it doesn't just make you laugh, it makes you think. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari, directed by Dhiraj MV, begins as a rural comedy but soon unfolds into a bold political satire. Tackling religious divides, caste bias, media hypocrisy, and performative politics, this film becomes a mirror to society. The film opens with a devotional hymn to Lord Eshwar, setting a spiritual tone. From there, we are taken to a higher primary school, where Manoj (Murali Shankar), a timid teacher in his mid-30s, struggles to maintain control. 'My name is ordinary, and so is my life,' he says—a line that lingers. Manoj takes leave from school and travels to Raibag, a historic town, to visit a thousand-year-old temple that opens to devotees only two days a year, and also to meet a prospective bride. He is joined by his colleagues, and as they arrive in Raibag, he meets Shivu (Shivakumar), a software engineer earning ₹20 lakh a year who also works as a temple priest. Also present is Abhirama (Abhirama Arjuna), a man preparing for the panchayat elections, known for his shallow charity and loud moral posturing. Director: Dhiraj MV Cast: Dhiraj MV, Abhirama Arjuna, Murali Shankar, Greeshma Sridharand Sri Sagar
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Book on antiquity of Telugu language launched at TANA conference
A book on the antiquity of the Telugu language, authored by E. Sivanagireddy, a noted archaeologist and CEO of Pleach India Foundation, was launched at the 24th TANA (Telugu Association of North America) conference at Show Place, Novi, Detroit on Saturday. According to Mr. Sivanagireddy, the book provides authentic source material based on Prakrit, Sanskrit, Telugu-Kannada and Telugu inscriptions found on stone plaques and copper plates dating between the 3rd century BCE and 11th century CE. A renowned Indian -American oncologist Mr. Dattatreyudu Nori has unveiled the book. Dr. Reddy briefed the audience on the antiquity of the 2,300-year-old Telugu language, which has been given the status of a classical language, citing references from inscriptions found in both Telugu States. Noted actor and politician M. Murali Mohan, noted academician Prof. Yarlagadda Laxmi Prasad, co-editor of the TANA souvenir Naveen Vasireddy and several writers including, Rentala Jayadev and Kiran Prabha, were present.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Patriarchy exists in all cultures, a universal issue, says Banu Mushtaq
Kannada writer and International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq said that readers were perceiving a sense of universality in the central theme of her writings that exposes patriarchy. She was taking part in a panel discussion at the 9th edition of the Mysuru Literature Festival which got under way here on Saturday. The two-day festival is being organised by the Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust and Mysuru Book Clubs Charitable Trust. The discussion, moderated by writer and poet Bharath Diwakar, included writer and translator Deepa Bhasthi. It touched upon various interconnected topics including patriarchy, activism, feminism, identity, culture, translation, among others. In reply to a question, Ms. Mushtaq referred to criticism from a section of the Muslim leaders that her works were exposing the weakness or faults within the community, while a few others sneered at her stating that she was writing to win praise. But this is not true, said Ms. Mushtaq, citing from reviews of her work from across the globe. She pointed out that the characters and themes have a universality and was not about Muslim community alone as patriarchy exists in all cultures. 'In a telling sign of changing perceptions, the same critics recently honoured me in Hassan,' she said. Ms. Mushtaq said literature cannot bring closure in conflict situations but help open the door to it. As a lawyer and activist, the mind is oriented towards finding a closure of a case and securing compensation. But as a writer, she leaves it to the reader to explore the various possibilities, and the literature only creates a space for it, she added. The writer underscored how characters in her stories never drift towards pessimism or despair, and there is an undercurrent of optimism, light, and hope that veer towards life. Ms. Bhasthi, who translated a collection of short stories by Ms. Mushtaq, said the latter did not micromanage her translation or check for every sentence. 'But when I had doubts or wanted more clarity on an issue, Ms. Mushtaq was always there,' said Ms. Bhasti, underlining the trust that defined their partnership. The two touched upon how their collaboration was described in some quarters as a 'work of a Muslim author and a Hindu translator'. An attempt was made to thrust religious identity, and it was uncomfortable. I took up the work as the theme is universal,' said Ms. Bhasti. Earlier, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar inaugurated the literature festival. Prahalada Rama Rao, a former scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation, who was the chief guest, said that culture, art, creativity, etc., can flourish only when there is security from both external and internal forces. He said there was a time when India excelled in various spheres, but in the absence of security, that progress was impeded, and the nation became vulnerable to invasions and cultural erosion. 'A secure environment is the foundation on which intellectual and artistic pursuits like literature, etc., can thrive,' he said. Shubha Sanjay Urs, founder and director of the Mysuru Literature Festival, was present. The organisers said the two-day festival has scores of discussions on various themes, and is a platform for dialogue and creative exchange of ideas reflecting the evolving intellectual and cultural landscape of India.
