''Sakuntalai'' is a 1940 Indian Tamil-language film directed by

Ellis R. Dungan Ellis Roderick Dungan (May 11, 1909 – December 1, 2001) was an American film director, who was well known for working in Indian films, predominantly in Tamil cinema, from 1936 to 1950. He was an alumnus of the University of Southern Californ ...

and starring M. S. Subbulakshmi and

G. N. Balasubramaniam Gudalur Narayanaswamy Balasubramaniam (6 January 1910 – 1 May 1965), popularly known as GNB, was an Indian Carnatic singer. He innovated the art through emphasis on ''laya ''control and reducing the ''gamakas'' which eventually made Carnatic ...

.Reminiscences on Directing M.S., the Musician-Movie Star by Ellis R. Dungan
/ref>

Plot

''Sakuntalai'' is the story of the mythological queen

Shakuntala Shakuntala (Sanskrit: ''Śakuntalā'') is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the '' Adi Parva'' of the ancient Indian epic ''Mahabharata'' and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption bein ...

, whose tale is told in the '' Mahabharata'' and dramatised by ''

Kalidasa Kālidāsa (''fl.'' 4th–5th century CE) was a Classical Sanskrit author who is often considered ancient India's greatest poet and playwright. His plays and poetry are primarily based on the Vedas, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata and ...

'' in the play '' Abhijñānaśākuntalam''.

Cast

;Male cast *

as Dushyanta * Serukalathur Sama as Kanwa *S. R. Kalyanasundaram as Saradwata *T. P. S. Mani as Durvasa *

K. Sarangapani Kumbakonam Sarangapani (1904-1984) was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood is a part of Indian Cinema; primarily engaged in production of motion pictures in the Tamil language. Based ou ...

as Madhavya * N. S. Krishnan and T,S.Durairaj as Fishermen *P. G. Venkatesan as Cartman ;Female cast * M. S. Subbulakshmi as Sakuntalai *

Radha Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...

as Bharata *

T. A. Mathuram T. A. Mathuram (14 October 1918 – 23 May 1974) was an Indian stage and film actress and singer. Biography and career Mathuram was born in Srirangam on 14 October 1918 in a family of artists. Her first Tamil film was Rathnaavali released in ...

as Priyamvada *Sakuntala Bai as Anasuya *Golden Saradambal as Gouthami *M. S. Ramani as Sarangrava *

K. Thavamani Devi K. Thavamani Devi (c. 1925 – 10 February 2001) was a Sri Lankan actress who also worked in a number of Tamil films during the 1940s. Born and brought up in a wealthy family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka her father was a successful barrister. Encour ...

as Menaka

Production

Subbulakshmi and her husband T. Sadasivam formed Royal Talkies to produce their own films. They decided to make a movie based

's life and asked director

K. Subramanyam K. Subramaniyam (20 April 1904 – 7 April 1971), born Krishnasamy Subramaniyam, was an Indian film director of the 1930s and 1940s. Dancer Padma Subrahmanyam is his daughter. Biography Subramanyam was involved in the establishment of the T ...

, to direct the film. Subramaniam was not able to do so because of prior commitments and recommended Ellis Dungan to be hired instead. Sadasivam wrote the screenplay and Papanasam Sivan was hired to write the lyrics. Carnatic singer

was cast as King Dushyanta. The comedic duo of N. S. Krishnan – T. A. Mathuram were also among the cast. Dungan introduced several new techniques to Tamil cinema in this film. The scene where ''Shakuntala'' loses her ring was shot in slow motion through a glass tank filled with water. In his autobiography (''A Guide to Adventure: An Autobiography'', Dorrance Publishing Company (2002)), Dungan wrote the following about his use of a European dancer for adding glamour to the film : The completed film was 17,400 Feet in length (around 3 hours run time). The film advanced the popularity of singing lead actress M. S. Subbulakshmi.Students' Britannica India – Volumes 1 – 5 -2000 Page 67 "In 1938 she made her film debut with Sevasadanam which was based on the theme of women's liberation. ... Subbulakshmi achieved immense popularity with her appearances as a singing star in films such as Sakuntalai (1940), Saitri ( 1941) ..."

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Thuraiyur Rajagopala Sarma while the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan. There were a total of 24 songs in ''Sakuntalai''. A couple of songs were longer than usual and the gramophone company had to issue special large sized records for them. A partial list of songs in the film: #"Endhan Idadhu Tholum Kannum" – M. S. Subbulakshmi (Karaharapriya) #"Manamogananga Anangae" – M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam #"Premayil Yavum Marandenae" – M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam #"Engum Nirai Nadha Bramammae" – M. S. Subbulakshmi #"Vegudooram Kadal Thandi Povomae" – N. S. Krishnan, T. S. Durairaj #"Innaikku Kalaila Elundiruchu" – N. S. Krishnan, T. S. Durairaj #"Anandam En Solvaenae" – M. S. Subbulakshmi (Sindhu Bhairavi) #"Sugumara En Thabam" – M. S. Subbulakshmi (Behag) #"Pannedum Naalaai" – M. S. Subbulakshmi (NadhaNaamakriya) #"Manam Kulira, Ullam Kulira" – M. S. Subbulakshmi

Reception

The film was released on 12 December 1940 and was a box office success.

References

External links

*
Photograph of Sadasivam, M. S. Subbulakshmi, Ellis R. Dungan during the shoot of Meera (1945)
{{Shakuntala 1940 drama films 1940 films 1940s Tamil-language films Films based on works by Kalidasa Films directed by Ellis R. Dungan Films scored by S. V. Venkatraman Films set in ancient India Indian black-and-white films Indian drama films Indian films based on plays Works based on Shakuntala (play)