Samantha carries ‘Shaakuntalam’ heavily on her shoulders, makes it watchable. Director Gunashekhar has made an earnest effort in bringing alive the epic love of Shaakuntala and Dushyant based on the romantic poem of Kalidasa in his play Abhijana Shakuntalam.
Director Gunashekhar must be appreciated for his bold attempt to make this film, but he seems to have been in a dilemma as to whether to make this film for adults or kids. The story narration is just not gripping enough to keep you engaged and, given its slow pace, it is a tedious watch. Given the title, one would have expected the story to be told in Shakuntala’s voice.
It feels like an animated children’s film with a lot of pretty animals and birds brought alive due to extensive VFX.
The director has gone all out to make it heavy with grand sets and VFX and has missed out on a story that would go with it.
Cinematographer has done his bid to show nature at its best. Manisharma’s music adds strength to the film.
Trailer:
Samantha infuses life to her character with her best ever action in every scene and looks gorgeous. Dev Mohan portrays well as king, warrior and lover. His romancing and action scenes exhibit his superb talent. Though Madhubala has limited role as Menaka her acting prowess is a feast for the fans. Allu Arha, daughter of Allu Arjun, proves her acting mettle and brings laurels to her superstar dad.
Menaka abandons her baby in the forest and a sage names her Shankuntala and takes her to his ashram. Shakuntala (Samantha) is raised as his own child and her entire world is the ashram, the forest and animals, like the deer and peacocks, who are her friends. Shakuntala is born to Menaka and Vishwamitra and her life is filled with woes. One day, Maharaja Dushyant (Dev Mohan) comes to their area, and they end up meeting. She falls in love with him. Her love for him is so strong that she agrees to a Gandharva Vivaha and the marriage is consummated.
Dushyant promises to come back and take her back to the kingdom with full pomp and splendour as his wife, but he never returns. Meanwhile, Shakuntala tells her foster father about this marriage and discovers she is pregnant. Sage Durvasa comes to visit the ashram and Shakuntala, who is lost in her own world, is cursed by him.
In a whole, the film is a visual treat to be observed in big screens. The film has been released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.
Cast
Samantha, Dev Mohan, Madhubala, Gautami, Allu Arha and Prakash Raj.
