Shakuntala (1940 film)
Encyclopedia
Shakuntala is a 1940 Tamil film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. S. Subbulakshmi
and G. N. Balasubramaniam
.
formed Royal Talkies to produce their own films. They decided to make a movie based Shakuntala
's life and asked director K. Subramaniam
, 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 G. N. Balasubramaniam
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).
, whose tale is told in the Mahabarata and dramatized by Kalidasa
in the play Abhijñānaśākuntalam
.
A partial list of songs in the film:
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...
and G. N. Balasubramaniam
G. N. Balasubramaniam
G. N. Balasubramaniam , popularly known as GNB, was a legendary vocalist in the Carnatic tradition. He became the first superstar of Carnatic music, innovating the art through emphasis on laya control & reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay and the learned...
.
Production
Subbulakshmi and her husband T. SadasivamThiagarajan Sadasivam
"Kalki" Thiagaraja Sadasivam was a leading freedom fighter, singer, journalist and film producer who was one of the founders, along with Kalki Krishnamurthy of the Tamil magazine Kalki. He is well-known as the husband of famous classical carnatic singer M.S...
formed Royal Talkies to produce their own films. They decided to make a movie based Shakuntala
Shakuntala
In Hindu mythology Shakuntala is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play Abhijñānaśākuntalam .-Etymology:Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds...
's life and asked director K. Subramaniam
K. Subramaniam
Krishnaswami Subramaniam was a renowned Tamil film director of the 30s and 40s. He is the father of popular Indian danseuse Padma Subramanyam.-Biography:...
, 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
Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam Sivan was a prominent composer of Carnatic music and a singer.A famous composer, Sivan was also known as Tamil Thyagayya. Using Classical South Indian as a base, Sivan created numerous hits popularised by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S...
was hired to write the lyrics. Carnatic singer G. N. Balasubramaniam
G. N. Balasubramaniam
G. N. Balasubramaniam , popularly known as GNB, was a legendary vocalist in the Carnatic tradition. He became the first superstar of Carnatic music, innovating the art through emphasis on laya control & reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay and the learned...
was cast as King Dushyanta
Dushyanta
Dushyant or Dushyanta was a great king in classical Indian literature and mythology. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of the Emperor Bharatha. He appears in the Mahabarata and in Kalidasa's play The Recognition of Sakuntala .-Historical king:According to the Mahābhārata, Dushyanta is...
. The comedic duo of N. S. Krishnan
N. S. Krishnan
Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
- 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).
Plot
Shakuntala is the story of the mythological queen ShakuntalaShakuntala
In Hindu mythology Shakuntala is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play Abhijñānaśākuntalam .-Etymology:Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds...
, whose tale is told in the Mahabarata and dramatized by Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
in the play Abhijñānaśākuntalam
Abhijñānaśākuntalam
Abhijñānashākuntala or Abhijñānaśākuntalam) , is a well-known Sanskrit play by Kālidāsa. Its date is uncertain, but Kalidasa is often placed in the period between the 1st century BCE and 4th century CE....
.
Cast and crew
- M. S. SubbulakshmiM. S. SubbulakshmiMadurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...
- Shakuntala - G. N. BalasubramaniamG. N. BalasubramaniamG. N. Balasubramaniam , popularly known as GNB, was a legendary vocalist in the Carnatic tradition. He became the first superstar of Carnatic music, innovating the art through emphasis on laya control & reducing the gamakas which eventually made Carnatic music appeal to the lay and the learned...
- King Dushyanta - Serukalathur Sama - Kanwa rishi
- N. S. KrishnanN. S. KrishnanNagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
- Fisherman - T. A. Mathuram - Priyamvadha
- Saradhambal - Anusuya
- T. S. Durairaj - Fisherman
- T. P. S. Mani - Durvasa rishi
- Ramani - Sarangaravan
- Kalyanam - Sarathvadhan
- K. Thavamani Devi
- "Golden" Saradhambal - Gowthami
- Ellis R. Dungan - Director and Editor
- T. SadasivamThiagarajan Sadasivam"Kalki" Thiagaraja Sadasivam was a leading freedom fighter, singer, journalist and film producer who was one of the founders, along with Kalki Krishnamurthy of the Tamil magazine Kalki. He is well-known as the husband of famous classical carnatic singer M.S...
- Screenplay - Thuraiyur Rajagopala Sharma - Music
- Papanasam SivanPapanasam SivanPapanasam Sivan was a prominent composer of Carnatic music and a singer.A famous composer, Sivan was also known as Tamil Thyagayya. Using Classical South Indian as a base, Sivan created numerous hits popularised by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S...
- Lyrics - Caridi Cuttak - Cinematographer
- G. K. Bhaskar - Editor
- Thakur - Art Director
- Jaishankar - Choreographer
Soundtrack
There were a total of 24 songs in Shankuntala. 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:
- 1)Endhan idadhu tholum kannum - M. S. Subbulakshmi
- 2)Manamogananga Anangae - M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam
- 3)Premayil yavum Marandenae - M. S. Subbulakshmi, G. N. Balasubramaniam
- 4)Engum Nirai Nadha Bramammae - M. S. Subbulakshmi
- 5)Vegudooram kadal thandi povomae - N. S. Krishnan, T. S. Durairaj
- 6)Innaikku kalaila elundiruchu - N. S. Krishnan, T. S. Durairaj
- 7) Anandam en solvaenae - M. S. Subbulakshmi
- 8)Sugumara en thavam - M. S. Subbulakshmi