Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)

"Shakuntaladevi (शकुन्तलादेवी)"

Watched Hindi movie "Shakuntaladevi". Direction Anu Menon. Written by Anu Menon, Nayanika Mahatani, Ishita Moitra. Produced by Sony Pictures, Networks India, Vikram Malhotra. Music by Sachin-Jigar. Cinematography Keiko Nakahara. The film features Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta. The movie runs for about 2 hours 7 minutes. I watched it on 31st July 2020 with Aditi.

Shakuntaladevi was a genius. The one and only person who could do ultra complex sums mentally faster than a computer. She was called human computer. In this movie Shakuntaladevi is shown as vein, self centred genius.

However, this movie does not delve into her genius or try to find how she could do it. The first half is about her move to England and rise to fame. Her legendary skills and her stage shows. Second part is about her complex marriage and her tempestuous relationship with her daughter. Shakuntala hates her mother for not intervening when father was being tyrant but over compensates by interfering with her daughters life. A genius, huge publicity, lot of money is a recipe for disastrous personal relationships. 

It appears as if the director could not decide whether to present her life or relationship of mother-daughter. As a result there is a lack of focus on either. Thus the movie appears shallow rather than profound. 

Vidya does well, but doesn't look her beautiful self. Sanya does good, except the horrible wig she wears while portraying her younger self. Amit is very good. Cinematography of old era is eye pleasing. Don't remember any song. 

End of movie doesn't come naturally with the flow. It appears made up. Things happen too conveniently. Shakuntala's visit to ancestral house is very superficial (the light bulb works after so many years, there is just 1 trunk in empty room and it has exactly those important things that movie needs). Sudden realization of Shakuntala and her daughter about their respective mothers, daughter's laughable realization that she had a happy childhood etc..

The movie doesn't capture audience's imagination. Ok, not wow!

Not a must watch.