Latest news with #KapataNatakaSutradhari
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
From Maareesan To Thalaivan Thalaivii: A Complete List Of South And Regional OTT Releases This Week
Last Updated: From thrillers and satires to family sagas and romances, here's the complete list of South Indian movies and shows streaming across OTT this week. From high-stakes thrillers and courtroom dramas to heartfelt family sagas and biting satires, South Indian and regional cinema are delivering a rich mix of stories on streaming this week. Here's a neatly curated guide to what's dropping across Netflix, Prime Video, ZEE5, Sun NXT, aha, Lionsgate Play, Simply South, and more. 1. Maareesan – Netflix | August 22 A gritty drama with shades of morality and greed, Maareesan follows a criminal who helps an Alzheimer's patient escape his house. But his motives are selfish—he only wants to see how much money he can extract from the vulnerable old man. What begins as a cold-blooded scheme gradually transforms into a complex journey of survival and connection. 2. Akkenam – aha Tamil | August 15 Starring Keerthi Pandiyan, Arun Pandian, and Aditya Shivpink, this Tamil drama explores ambition, loyalty, and power struggles. Written and directed by Uday K, Akkenam presents a layered narrative where relationships are tested against moral dilemmas and societal conflicts. 3. Yaadhum Ariyaan – Simply South, aha Tamil | August 15 Appu Kutty, Thambi Ramaiah, and Dinesh headline Yaadhum Ariyaan (aka Yaadhumariyaan), a heartfelt Tamil drama directed by M. Gopi. With music by Dharma Prakash, the film captures human resilience, struggles, and deep emotional bonds that anchor us through life's storms. 4. Soothravakyam – Lionsgate Play | August 21 Inspector Christo Xavier transforms his police station into a community center while mentoring young students. But a missing person case soon tests his ideals and brings him face-to-face with grim realities. Soothravakyam balances social sensitivity with the grit of an investigative thriller. 5. Shodha – ZEE5 | August 22 This psychological thriller blurs reality and illusion as Rohith files a missing person's complaint for his wife after an accident. When police find her alive, he denies she's his wife and accuses her of being an imposter. The case unravels shocking truths that keep audiences guessing till the end. 6. Thalaivan Thalaivii – Prime Video (OTTplay) | August 22 An intense emotional saga, Thalaivan Thalaivii examines the passionate and anarchic love story of two fiercely independent souls. Romance, conflict, and rebellion intertwine in this layered drama of love and chaos. 7. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari – Sun NXT | August 22 A satirical take on power and injustice, Kapata Nataka Sutradhari employs wit and irony to highlight societal biases. With its humorous yet biting tone, the film tackles politics and prejudice in a refreshing way. 8. Kolahalam – Sun NXT | August 22 Chaos and comedy unfold within 16 hours between a man's death and his funeral. When a thief barges in, preparations spiral into hilariously failed escape attempts. Kolahalam mixes laughter with a sharp social message that cuts across political divides. 9. Aamar Boss – ZEE5 | August 22 A quirky Bengali drama set around a unique idea—an office-based old-age crèche created by the boss' mother. Beyond boosting productivity, it fosters warmth and inclusivity at the workplace, reshaping both family and professional dynamics. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 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
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Kapata Nataka Sutradhari' movie review: Dhiraj MV debuts with a brave political satire
In Dhiraj MV's Kapata Nataka Sutradhari, a 1000-year-old temple, known for producing miracles, opens only twice a year. Despite boasting such a special temple, the fictitious town Raya Bagha is a surprisingly quiet place, or rather, it's an ignored town, as there is nobody to look into a transgender woman's complaint of the absence of a toilet for her, or why there is only one school in the entire village. It takes a Hindu-Muslim conflict for the village to come alive. At the centre of the controversy is a Muslim man, Mohammad Ismail (played by Dhiraj), who gets stuck below an elephant idol. It is believed that those who crawl below the idol will have their wishes fulfilled. The overweight Ismail takes the risk of following the ritual, and gets stuck below the idol. All hell breaks loose when he reveals his identity. Naturally, people are divided about the situation, with one group vocal about the safety of Ismail while the other vociferously behind the protection of the idol from destruction. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari (Kannada) Director: Dhiraj MV Cast: Abhirama Arjuna, Dhiraj MV, Murali Shankar Shastry, Varun Gururaj Runtime: 92 minutes Storyline: In a 1000-year-old Hindu temple, all hell breaks loose when a Muslim boy gets stuck below a elephant idol. What unflods is a political satire that aims at addressing societal prejudices and inequalities humorously. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari conveys how religion is used as a political tool by the power-hungry. The character Abhirama, who nurses political ambitions, senses an opportunity and fuels communal discord. In the 90-minute film, Dhiraj populates his screenplay with strong characters. Apart from the evil-minded Abhirama, the film has a young woman with a mind of her own. In a backward town, it's refreshing to see her discuss her desires with her potential husband. A perennially drunk guy who spits facts is also a hoot. He represents many homeless strangers in villages who are more intelligent than they appear. The sarcasm in the writing is on point. My favourite is when a YouTuber gets ridiculed as a product of the free internet. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari takes sharp potshots at the TRP-obsessed television media, reminding us of the Hindi film Peepli Live (2010). The idea, which works brilliantly to an extent, becomes the film's undoing when the director gets stuck with showcasing media's exploitation of the ill-fated, moving away from the core concept of religious harmony. From a political and religious satire, the movie suddenly becomes a media satire. A twist reveals how those in authority are ineffective and biased in handling religious conflict. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari works best when it subtly reflects the current state of affairs. Despite many proposing a possible idea to ensure both — Ismail's safety and the idol remaining unharmed — the situation remains the same in the film, showing how people want to or get conditioned to contest and quarrel instead of coexisting peacefully. And the elephant idol, perhaps, reflects our flawed system. While an innocent like Ismail gets stuck beneath it, the gullible get brainwashed by powerful people with vested interests. ALSO READ:The short film surge in Kannada: Young filmmakers are oozing promise with relatable stories After deftly handling a sensitive subject for most of the movie, Dhiraj throws his hands up in the climax. He opts for a rosy, idealistic finish, dampening the effect of the movie. The climax reveals how filmmakers are worried about their films being pulled from theatres. Movies with important subjects pivot to convenient climaxes to avoid censorship troubles. That said, Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is a promising debut for Dhiraj, who also makes a mark as a writer. The film speaks about the temple's capacity to deliver miracles. In the end, you witness a miracle, too good to be true. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is currently releasing in theatres
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Kapata Nataka Sutradhari' trailer: Dhiraj MV and team promise a relevant religious satire
Kannada film Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is set to hit the screens on July 04, 2025. Written and directed by Dhiraj MV, the film is a 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.'
New Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
New-age political satire, Kapata Nataka Sutradhari, gets a July release date
The narrative revolves around a young man from one community who visits a sacred site of another, driven purely by curiosity. This simple act sets off a chain of tense events, revealing how easily religious harmony can be destabilised by political agendas. The film's visuals and tone suggest a grounded, realistic approach designed to provoke thought and discussion among viewers. Produced under the VSK Cinemas banner, Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is a fresh offering from a team of newcomers. The technical crew includes cinematographer Veeresh NTA, and composer Prasanna Kumar MS.
