''Sakunthala'' is a 1966

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

-language

Hindu mythological film This is a list of genres of literature and entertainment ( film, television, music, and video games), excluding genres in the visual arts. ''Genre'' is the term for any category of creative work, which includes literature and other forms of a ...

directed by

Kamalakara Kameswara Rao Kamalakara Kameswara Rao (14 October 1911 – 29 June 1998) was an Indian film director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema, and a few Tamil and Hindi films. Widely known as ''Pauranika Chitra Brahma'' (), Kameswara Rao directed fi ...

. The film stars

N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for seven years over three terms. He starred ...

and

B. Saroja Devi Bangalore Saroja Devi (born 7 January 1938) is an Indian actress who has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. She acted in around 200 films in over six decades. She is known by the epithets "''Abhinaya Saraswathi''" ( Saraswathi of a ...

, with music composed by

Ghantasala Ghantasala may refer to: People * Ghantasala (musician) (Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, 1922-1974), Telugu singer and composer * Ghantasala Balaramayya (1906 - after 1952), Telugu film producer and director * Ghantasala Sai Srinivas, professionally ...

. It is produced by Lakshmi Rajyam and Sridhar Rao under the Rajyam Productions banner.

Plot

The film begins with Saint

Viswamitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri ...

and

Menaka Menaka () is an Apsara (heavenly nymph) in Hindu literature. Legends Menaka was born during the churning of the ocean by the devas and asuras. She is one of the most mesmerising apsaras (celestial nymphs) in the three worlds, with quick in ...

leaving a newborn baby in the forest, Kanva Maharshi finds the baby surrounded by birds, therefore, she is named Sakunthala and raises her. Once King

Dushyanta Dushyanta ( sa, दुष्यन्त, translit=Duṣyanta) is a king of the Chandravamsha (Lunar) dynasty featured in Hindu literature. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of Bharata. He appears in the Mahabharata and in Kalid ...

encounters Sakunthala while hunting, he loves and marries her as per the ''

Gandharva marriage A Gandharva marriage (Sanskrit: गान्धर्व विवाह, ''pronounced gənd̪ʱərvə vɪvaːhə'') (also known as love marriage) is one of the eight classical types of Hindu marriage. This ancient marriage tradition from the Indi ...

''. Before returning, Dushyanta gives his royal ring to Sakunthala as a symbol of his love. One day, Saint

Durvasa In Hindu scriptures, Durvasa ( sa, दुर्वासा, ) also known as Durvasas (Sanskrit: दुर्वासस्), is a legendary rishi (sage). He is the son of Anasuya and Atri. According to some Puranas, Durvasa is a partial av ...

, comes to the ashram but, Sakunthala is lost in her thoughts on her husband and fails to greet him properly when he curses her saying that the person, she is dreaming of will forget her. As he departed in a rage, Sakunthala's friends Anasuya and Priyamvada say sorry for their friend's deed and request him to pardon her. Now Durvasa modifies his curse saying that the person gets back his memory when he sees the personal token given to her. Time passes, and Sakunthala becomes pregnant, so, Kanva Maharshi sends Sakunthala to her husband. On the way, they cross a river, and the ring slips off her finger and is swallowed by a fish. Arriving at

Hastinapur Hastinapur is a city in the Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ''Hastinapura'', described in Hindu texts such as the ''Mahabharata'' and the Puranas as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom, is also mentioned in ancient Jain texts ...

am, Dushyanta is not able to recognize her, humiliated, Sakunthala returns to the forest and takes shelter at

Kasyapa Kashyapa ( sa, कश्यप}, ) is a revered Vedic sage of Hinduism., Quote: "Kasyapa (Rudra),(Vedic Seer)..." He is one of the Saptarishis, the seven ancient sages of the ''Rigveda''. Kashyapa is the most ancient and venerated rishi, al ...

Mahamuni's Asram, where she gives birth to a baby boy Bharata. Meanwhile, fishermen (Relangi and Ramana Reddy) find a royal ring in the belly of a fish and take it to the palace when Dushyanta recollects the past. Immediately he set out to find Sakunthala, in the forest, he is surprised by a young boy playing with wild animals and amazed by his boldness and strength. At last, the boy takes him to his mother Sakunthala, and thus the couple is reunited. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the crowning ceremony of Bharata.

Cast

as Sakunthala *

Nagayya V. Nagayya (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma; 28 March 1904 – 30 December 1978) also known as Chittoor Nagayya was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. I ...

as Kanva Maharshi * Relangi as Achigadu, fisherman *

Ramana Reddy Ramana Reddy (1 October 1921 – 11 November 1974) was an Indian character actor, comedian and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning 24 years, he acted in more than 200 movies. Ramana Reddy and Relang ...

as Buchigadu, fisherman *

Padmanabham Padmanabham mandal is one of the 46 mandals in Visakhapatnam District in India. It is under the administration of Visakhapatnam revenue division and the headquarters is located at Padmanabham. The Mandal is bounded by Bheemunipatnam, Anandapur ...

as Madhava *

Mukkamala Mukkamala may refer to: * Mukkamala (actor) * Mukkamala, East Godavari district Mukkamala is a village in Ambajipeta mandal of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Eminent Astrophysicist Appadvedula Lakshmi Narayan, known as A. L. N ...

Visvamitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mant ...

*K.V.S.Sharma as

Geetanjali __NOTOC__ ''Gitanjali'' ( bn, গীতাঞ্জলি, lit='Song offering') is a collection of poems by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore received the Nobel Prize for Literature, for the English translation, Gitanjali:'' Song Off ...

as Anasuya *

Sarada Sharada or Sarada (Sanskrit for "autumnal") may refer to: * the season spanning the months of Bhadrapada, Ashvin, and Kārtika of the traditional lunar Hindu calendar * Another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati * Sharada script, abugida writing ...

as Priyamvada *

Pushpavalli Pushpavalli (3 January 1926 – 28 April 1991) was an Indian actress who predominently worked in Telugu and Tamil films. She entered the film industry as a child actress with a small role as young Sita in the film ''Sampoorna Ramayanam'' (1936 ...

as Raja Maata *

E. V. Saroja E. V. Saroja (1935 - 2006) was an Indian actress and dancer. She was born on 3 November 1935 as Engan V. Saroja. She belonged to Engan village of Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu. Her debut film was '' En Thangai'' in 1952 starring M. G. Ramacha ...

Nirmalamma Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She has acted in more than 800 films. She was well known for her grandmother roles in several films.She won two Nandi Awards. Early life She was born in ...

as Arya Gowthami * Baby Kutty Padmini as Bharata

Soundtrack

Music was composed by

References

{{Shakuntala Hindu mythological films Films directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao Films scored by Ghantasala (musician) Films based on the Mahabharata Films based on works by Kalidasa Works based on Shakuntala (play)