Shaakuntalam
| Shaakuntalam | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Gunasekhar |
| Produced by | Dil Raju Neelima Guna |
| Written by | Gunasekhar Sai Madhav Burra (Dialogues) |
| Based on | Shakuntala by Kalidasa |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mani Sharma |
| Cinematography | Sekhar V. Joseph |
| Edited by | Prawin Pudi |
Production company | Gunaa Teamworks Dil Raju Productions |
| Distributed by | Dil Raju |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu Tamil Hindi |
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Shaakuntalam is an upcoming Indian film written and directed by Gunasekhar and produced by Neelima Guna of Gunaa Teamworks. This film is based on a popular Indian play, Shakuntala by Indian playwright Kalidasa. This film features Samantha Akkineni as the lead character, Shakuntala and Dev Mohan as the king of Puru Dynasty, Dushyant.
The project was announced on October 2020 by Gunasekhar official Twiiter handle.[1]. The project was planned to be an Pan-Indian project, releasing in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. The film began production in February 2021 in Hyderabad.
Cast[edit]
- Samantha Akkineni as Shakuntala
- Dev Mohan as Dushyant
- Mohan Babu as Durvasa Maharishi
- Aditi Balan[2]
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In 2017, Director Gunasekhar announced a magnus opus Hiranya Kashyapa with Tollywood actor Rana Daggubati in the lead. This film was based on the famous mythological tale of the Asura, Hiranyakashipu, but due to the large scale of the project, makers spent almost three years in the pre-production of the project, considering the high budget. On 9th of October 2020, the director took his social media account to address that thought the pre-production of Hiranya Kashyapa was completed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the shooting process of the film will not start in the near future[3]. At the meantime, he also informed that he will start on a new project and will be announcing details later that day. Just as said, makers released a concept motion poster of Shaakuntalam in Gunaa Teamworks official Twitter handle. The motion poster informed that director Gunasekhar has written and will direct the film and his daughter, Neelima Guna has bankrolled the film under the banner Gunaa Teamworks. The poster also noted that music composer Mani Sharma is roped in for the film. The film was based on a Sanskrit play, Shakuntala written by Kalidasa depicting the epic love story of forest dweller Shakuntala and the king of Puru Dynasty, Dushyant. The project was set out to be a Pan- Indian project, appealing to all Indian audiences.
Casting[edit]
Soon after the announcement, reports suggested that the makers have approached actress Anushka Shetty for the lead role of Shakuntala after the collaboration of the actress and director Gunasekhar in the 2015 historical drama, Rudhramadevi where she essayed the titular character, queen Rudrama Devi[4]. Due to several reason, actress Anushka Shetty refused to be a part in this project. Later, rumours went around that Pooja Hegde was also offered the lead character, but she rejected stating she is too young to play a mother character.[5] Regarding the rumour, producer Neelima Guna has denied the rumour and clarified that the makers never approached actress Pooja Hegde to be a part of the movie[6]. During December 2020, several media confirmed that actress Samantha Akkineni was roped in as the lead actress to potray Shakuntala. Just as media reported, Gunaa Teamworks released another concept motion poster confirming Samantha Akkineni's inclusion in the project on the New Year of 2021.[7]
Later in the year, buzzes came around that Malayalam actor Dev Mohan who recently debuted in the 2020 Malayalam flick Sufiyum Sujatayum [8]and Telugu actress Eesha Rebba was included in the project[9] with Dev Mohan reportedly playing Dushyant and Eesha Rebba supposed character unknown. In March of 2021, media mentioned that Eesha Rebba has walked out of the project due to dissagreement in salary[10] . On March 6 of 2021, Samantha Akkineni has taken her social media to announce that Dev Mohan is officially a part of the project essaying King Dushyant. [11] Media suggested that veteran actor Mohan Babu [12][13] was playing a key supporting character, the hot- tempered sage Durvasa and Aruvi fame actress Aditi Balan was replacing Eesha Rebba in the film, also sporting a important supporting role.
Filming[edit]
The film is set in the Northern of India in the backdrop of Hastinapur and the banks of Himalaya. Makers have signed art director Ashok Kumar who has previously collaborated with Gunasekhar in Okkadu to handle the set.[14] The team has also roped in National Awardee fashion designer Neeta Lulla who received acclaims for films like Devdas, Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi and Panipat and has also worked with Gunasekhar in Rudhramadevi [15]. For this project, Neeta Lulla has sourced local handwoven fabrics near Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in Pochampally and Vijayawada. The pooja and the principal photography of Shaakuntalam was kickstarted on March 15 at Annapurna Studios and producer Allu Aravind graced the event[16]. The inclusion of Dil Raju as a co-producer under the banner Dil Raju Productions along with Gunaa Teamworks was announced on that very occasion. It was revealed that Sekhar V. Joseph and National Award winner Bishwadeep Chatterjee was also signed in for the project to handle the cinematography and sound design for the film respectively[17]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Revealed: Interesting facts about Gunasekhar's next Shaakuntalam". E Times. 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Heroes are done, now it's the time for producers!". Latest Telugu Political News | Telangana | Andhra Pradesh News. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ↑ "Rana Daggubati's Hiranyakashyap put on the back burner, confirms director Gunasekhar". Hindustan Times. 2022-10-09. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ↑ "Anushka Shetty in Gunasekhar Shakuntalam?". Tollywood.net. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Pooja Hegde to take Anushka Shetty's place in upcoming 'Shakuntalam'". The News Minute. 2020-11-14. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Neelima Guna denies approaching Pooja Hegde for Shankunthalam". Tollywood.net. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Samantha Akkineni to headline Shaakuntalam". Cinema Express. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Malayalam actor Dev Mohan opposite Samantha". Telugu Cinema. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Eesha Rebba grabs a prominent role in Shaakuntalam". Telugu Cinema. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Eesha Rebba rejected Gunsekhar's Shakuntalam due to less remuneration?". Times Of India. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Shaakuntalam: Samantha Akkineni finds her 'Prince Charming' in Dev Mohan". The Indian Express. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Samantha Akkineni's Shakuntalam: Mohan Babu to play a key supporting role?". PINKVILLA. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ↑ Balach, Logesh; ChennaiMarch 17, ran; March 17, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 14:16. "Mohan Babu on board for Samantha Akkineni's Shaakuntalam?". India Today. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ↑ "Grand set works on for Samantha Akkineni's 'Shaakuntalam'". Indiaglitz. 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ↑ "Pic Talk: 'Devdas' designer Neeta Lulla teams up with Samantha for 'Shakuntalam'". E Times. 2021-01-08.
- ↑ "Shaakuntalam: Samantha Akkineni and Dev Mohan make for a gorgeous pair at the launch of their pan-India film". Bollywood Life. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ↑ "Technical crew of Shaakuntalam". The Times of India. 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2021-03-19. zero width space character in
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