Kapata Nataka Sutradhari out on OTT: Stream Dhiraj MV’s debut directorial political satire now

Dhiraj MV, a budding filmmaker and occasional actor, who’s better known in filmi circles as the face of the Kannada Filmy Club, a forum that is about all things cinema, made his directorial debut recently with the film Kapata Nataka Sutradhari . He’d marketed it as the first new-age political satire, and brought it to theatres in early July. The film’s streaming rights were subsequently picked up by Sun Network and as of August 22, 2025, it is available to stream on Sun NXT (via OTTplay Premium also) with Kannada audio only.

The premise of Kapata Nataka Sutradhari

Kapata Nataka Sutradhari follows two teachers played by Murali Shankar and Dhiraj, who head to a small village, where the former is set to meet a prospective bride. Besides the personal nature of the trip, they also decide to check out a famed temple in the area, which is believed to be where devotees can get their wishes granted. All they have to do is crawl under an elephant statue.

Trouble strikes when Dhiraj’s character joins in, despite initial apprehension about whether he can actually do it owing to his girth. He is egged on by bystanders, including a local sadhu, but then gets stuck under the statue, unable to move forward or retreat. No amount of pushing or pulling helps, so the villagers decide to free him by removing one of the legs of the elephant, which was already in dire need of repair.

Also read: Kapata Nataka Sutradhari movie review: Dhiraj MV's gutsy political satire has too soft a landing 

Just before they go ahead with this plan, though, someone asks him his name and then, all hell breaks loose. The man stuck under the elephant statue in a Hindu temple is Mohammad Ismail. Once his identity becomes public, the initial plan to free him is thrown out the window as it would amount to desecration of the temple, the villagers argue. But will they be okay to let him die there, rather than rescue him? This is at the crux of Dhiraj’s film, as he examines how different sections of society react to his predicament and try to milk it for their own benefit.

FAQs

Q. Is Kapata Nataka Sutradhari about a Hindu-Muslim conflict?

A. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is not about a Hindu-Muslim conflict, but provides socio-political commentary on how people react to the situation at hand – a Muslim man stuck in a Hindu temple.

Q. Is Kapata Nataka Sutradhari on OTT?

A. Kapata Nataka Sutradhari is now available on Sun NXT (via OTTplay Premium also); it dropped on the platform on August 22, 2025.