Shaakuntalam

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Shaakuntalam
Directed byGunasekhar
Written byGunasekhar
Sai Madhav Burra (dialogue)
Based onShakuntala
by Kalidasa
Produced byNeelima Guna
Dil Raju
Hanshitha Reddy
Starring
CinematographySekhar V. Joseph
Edited byPrawin Pudi
Music byMani Sharma
Production
companies
Gunaa Teamworks
Dil Raju Productions
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Shaakuntalam is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language mytological drama film[1] written and directed by Gunasekhar and produced by Neelima Guna and Dil Raju under the banner of Gunaa Teamworks and Dil Raju Productions respectively. Based on a popular Indian play Shakuntala by Kalidasa, the film features Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the titular role of Shakuntala and Dev Mohan as Dushyanta, the king of Puru Dynasty along with Mohan Babu, Sachin Khedekar, Gautami, Aditi Balan and Ananya Nagalla in supporting roles.

The project was announced in October 2020 by Gunasekhar.[2] The film began production in February 2021 in Hyderabad.

Cast[]

Production[]

The cast and crew of Shaakuntalam at the film's launch during March 2021 at Annapurna Studios. The cast and crew being Dil Raju, Hanshitha Reddy, Mani Sharma, Dev Mohan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Allu Aravind, Neelima Guna and Gunasekhar (l-r)

Development[]

In 2017, director Gunasekhar announced a magnum opus Hiranya Kashyapa with Rana Daggubati as the lead. The film was based on the famous mythological tale of the Asura, Hiranyakashipu. On 9 October 2020, the director announced that 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.[18]

Casting[]

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[19] but later Anushka Shetty Declined the Offer. During December 2020, several media confirmed that actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu was cast as the lead actress to portray Shakuntala.[3]

Later in the year, buzzes came around that Malayalam actor Dev Mohan and Telugu actress Eesha Rebba was included in the project[20] with Dev Mohan reportedly playing Dushyant and Eesha Rebba supposed character unknown. In March 2021, media mentioned that Rebba has walked out of the project due to several reason.[4] On March 6 of 2021, Samantha has taken her social media to announce that Dev Mohan is officially a part of the project as Dushyant.[21] Media suggested that veteran actor Mohan Babu[8][22] was playing the hot-tempered Durvasa Maharishi and Aditi Balan was replacing Rebba in the film.[23]

Reports came around that the director will be approaching Jr NTR's son Abhay Ram or Allu Arjun's son Allu Ayaan to feature in as Shakuntala's son Bharata,[24] but actor Allu Arjun's daughter Allu Arha is having her maiden debut in this production as said character.[25] Actress Varshini Sounderajan confiremd of being a part in the film through an interview with Deccan Chronicle[15] and actress Madhoo said about the inclusion of the cast through a tweet.[11][better source needed]

Filming[]

The film is set in the Northern of India in the backdrop of Hastinapur, parts of Kashmir and the banks of Himalaya. Makers have signed art director to handle the set.[26] The team has also hired National Awardee fashion designer Neeta Lulla who has also worked with Gunasekhar in Rudhramadevi.[27] The pooja and the principal photography of Shaakuntalam was kickstarted on March 15 at Annapurna Studios.[28] It was revealed that Sekhar V. Joseph and Bishwadeep Chatterjee was also signed in for the project to handle the cinematography and sound design for the film respectively.[29]

The first schedule of filming was started on late March with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Dev Mohan and Aditi Balan at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad.[30][31] But due to the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India, the shooting was halted towards the end of June. During an interview, Gunasekhar has stated that almost 50% of filming has been completed on late June.[32] The shooting will be recommenced during the end of June back at Annapurna Studios, then later in Ramoji Film City.[33] Reportedly, Samantha Ruth Prabhu joined the second schedule of filming along with Dev Mohan and Aditi Balan.[34] Several scenes were shot in Ananthagiri Hills and Vikarabad Forests with actor Dev Mohan. Several scenes were shot in Gandipet Lake in July 2021.[35] The filming was finished on the last week of August 2021 at Annapurna Studios.[36]

Post Production[]

The visual and graphics department is handled by industry professional Alagarsamy Maayan, with talents from Canada, Hong Kong and China working on the VFX to get the visualisation right. Director Gunasekhar has confirmed that the post production might be longer than 10 months, considering the vision of the director to be met.

References[]

  1. ^ "Samantha to headline Gunasekhar's 'Shakuntalam'". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 2 January 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 March 2021.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ "Revealed: Interesting facts about Gunasekhar's next Shaakuntalam - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Samantha Akkineni to headline Shaakuntalam". Cinema Express. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Eesha Rebba: Shaakuntalam did not happen because of many factors". Hindustan Times. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Heroes are done, now it's the time for producers!". Latest Telugu Political News | Telangana | Andhra Pradesh News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ^ Ananya Nagalla on sharing screen space with Samantha in Shakuntalam - TV9, retrieved 13 September 2021
  7. ^ Vijay Devarakonda With Sukumar || Gunasekhar's Shakuntalam || Alia-Ranbir Leave For Maldives - TV9, retrieved 13 September 2021
  8. ^ a b "Samantha Akkineni's Shakuntalam: Mohan Babu to play a key supporting role?". PINKVILLA. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Aditi Balan regarding Shaakuntalam". Twitter. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  10. ^ "శాకుంతలం: కీలకపాత్రలో బాలీవుడ్ నటుడు". Sakshi (in Telugu). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Currently shooting with the best team of #shakuntalam Director @Gunasekhar1 and @neelima_guna gave me one of the best experiences". Twitter. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Kabir Duhan Singh on his working exprience in Shaakuntalam". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. ^ "कबीर दुहान सिंह ने पूरी की 'शकुंतलम' की शूटिंग!". sanjeevnitoday.com. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Allu Arha's Entry With Samantha's Film". Gulte. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  15. ^ a b Adivi, Sashidhar (25 July 2021). "Varshini Sounderajan joins Samantha's Shakuntalam". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Malhottra Shivam on Shaakuntalam wrapping up". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  17. ^ Hymavathi, Ravali (24 August 2021). "It's A Wrap For Gunasekhar and Samantha's Shaakuntalam". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Rana Daggubati's Hiranyakashyap put on the back burner, confirms director Gunasekhar". Hindustan Times. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Anushka Shetty in Gunasekhar Shakuntalam?". Tollywood.net. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Eesha Rebba grabs a prominent role in Shaakuntalam". Telugu Cinema. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Shaakuntalam: Samantha Akkineni finds her 'Prince Charming' in Dev Mohan". The Indian Express. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  22. ^ Balach, Logesh; ChennaiMarch 17, ran; March 17, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 14:16. "Mohan Babu on board for Samantha Akkineni's Shaakuntalam?". India Today. Retrieved 19 March 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "'Aruvi' Actress In Samantha's Shaakuntalam". Gulte. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Talk of the Town: Abhay Ram Or Allu Ayaan In Shakuntalam?". Gulte. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  25. ^ ChennaiJuly 15, Janani K.; July 15, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 13:58. "Allu Arjun's daughter Arha to make her acting debut with Samantha's Shaakuntalam". India Today. Retrieved 15 July 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Grand set works on for Samantha Akkineni's 'Shaakuntalam'". Indiaglitz. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Pic Talk: 'Devdas' designer Neeta Lulla teams up with Samantha for 'Shakuntalam'". E Times. 8 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Shaakuntalam: Samantha Akkineni and Dev Mohan make for a gorgeous pair at the launch of their pan-India film". Bollywood Life. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Technical crew of Shaakuntalam". The Times of India. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Dev Mohan's Instagram photo: "Shaakuntalam