India, April 27 -- The past weekend has felt steeped in the arts. If Michael, the biopic, leaned into music, the lesser-known Nukkad Natak (dropping on OTT) focused on the performing arts. What connects the two is simple: they make you care about what's unfolding on screen.

Nukkad Natak has been quietly making headlines, first for securing a theatrical release earlier this year despite limited screens. Mounted on a shoestring budget by a small team, the film follows Molshri (played by Molshri) and Shivang (Shivang Rajpal), members of their college theatre society. After being expelled for theft, they are offered a shot at re-admission by the college director: help five children from a nearby slum get into school, and they can complete th...