Cast: Samantha, Dev Mohan, Krishnam Raju, Mohan Babu, Prakash Raj, and Allu Arha
Director: Gunasekhar
Producer: Neelima Guna
Story: Shaakuntalam is a modern retelling of the classic love story Abhignana Shaakuntalam, written by Kalidasa. The film follows the epic romance between Shakuntala (played by Samantha) and Dushyant (played by Dev Mohan), with director Gunasekhar adding some action sequences and expanding on certain details from the original text to make the story more commercially appealing.
The plot begins with Shakuntala’s arrival at Kanva Maharshi’s ashram and traces how Dushyant falls in love with her, leading to their secret Gandharva marriage. However, their happiness is short-lived as they are separated by a series of dramatic events before ultimately reuniting for a happy ending.
Performances: Shaakuntalam features the two main characters, Shakuntala and Dushyant, played by Samantha and Dev Mohan, respectively. Samantha’s casting as Shakuntala was a bold move, but it proved to be a mixed bag. While she delivered a fine performance in the second part portraying Atmabhimana Shakuntala, her image and body language came in the way of Srungara Shakuntala. Her masculine appearance contradicted the sensuous portrayal described in Kalidasa’s original text. Despite her attempts to bring the required impact through her voice, it fell short, and the authenticity of the character was damaged. Additionally, due to the character’s absence in significant portions of the film, it is not a memorable outing for Samantha.
Dev Mohan’s portrayal of Dushyant was largely commendable, except for a few flaws. He needed more screen presence in some scenes, and his lack of nativity detracted from the impact of the character. A locally known face may have made a bigger impact.
However, it was Allu Arjun’s daughter Allu Arha’s role that stood out and captured the audience’s attention. The child actor was a delight to watch in the climax, delivering her lines with charm and grace during the confrontation scenes. Arha’s on-screen presence and confidence were impressive.
Analysis: Credit must be given to Gunasekhar for attempting to bring mythology closer to the younger generation through his film, Shaakuntalam, which is essentially a love story. The director’s decision to incorporate action sequences to make the film more commercially appealing did not appear forced.
The action sequences in the first half of the film were well-executed, with the exception of one war scene. However, the war sequence in the second half was a letdown due to poorly written Asura tyranny and unsatisfactory visual effects.
Shaakuntalam revolves around the love story of Shakuntala and Dushyant, but the performances by Samantha and Dev Mohan make it feel like a female-oriented film. While the marketing strategy aimed to focus on Samantha’s star power, it did not give an accurate representation of the movie’s subject. A successful love story requires strong chemistry between the leads, conflicts to drive the plot, and drama to engage the audience. Unfortunately, these aspects were not effectively executed in the film.
There was a lack of chemistry between the lead actors, and the drama to connect with Shakuntala’s character was insufficient. Samantha’s regular on-screen image also proved to be a challenge. In the second half, her character disappears for a considerable period, and the director missed an opportunity to show her pain effectively. The director may have been trying to avoid melodrama, but in doing so, an essential block in the love story was lost. The realization of Dushyanta’s character was also not impactful.
Allu Arha’s performance in the final portions of the film was impressive, and her dialogue delivery added charm to the movie. The final union of the lead characters also lacked drama. While the production design was excellent, the visual and 3D effects were a mixed bag.
Highlights:
· Gunasekhar’s attempt to bring mythology closer to millennials is commendable
· Allu Arha’s cute screen presence and beautiful dialogue delivery were amusing
· Samantha’s emotional scenes were effective
· Dushyanta’s court scene was impactful
Drawbacks:
· Lack of chemistry between the lead pair
· Absence of proper emotions
· Samantha’s image causing interference in certain situations
· Samantha’s own dubbing being noticeable in a few scenes
Verdict: Shaakuntalam is a film that showcases Gunasekhar’s honest effort and intention to present mythology to the younger generation. However, the lack of drama in the film’s execution makes it difficult to hold the audience’s attention. The film’s undoing lies in the superficiality of its core emotions, rather than the visual effects. While the film may appeal to those interested in the genre, it is essential to adjust expectations accordingly. Overall, Gunasekhar’s attempt to present a mythological story to the younger generation is genuine and sincere, but there are flaws that could have been avoided.
Rating :2.5/5