Sakunthala (1966 film)

Sakunthala
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Written by	Samudrala Sr (dialogues)
Based on	Life of Shakuntala
Produced by	Lakshmi Rajyam Sridhar Rao
Starring	N. T. Rama Rao B. Saroja Devi
Cinematography	M. A. Rehman
Edited by	Veerappa
Music by	Ghantasala
Production company	Rajyam Productions
Release date	3 March 1966 (1966-03-03)
Running time	162 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Sakunthala is a 1966 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.^[1][2] The film stars N. T. Rama Rao and B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by Ghantasala. It is produced by Lakshmi Rajyam and Sridhar Rao under the Rajyam Productions banner.

The film begins with Indra's attempts to foil Vishvamitra's penance and edicts Menaka when the two are glad for a baby girl. Anyhow, they ostracize her, and Kanva raises her as Shakuntala because birds cover her. Years roll by, and Dushyanta the empire of Hastinapur once guests in their ashram while hunting in Kanva"s absence. Plus, he shields them from the impediments to their "Yaga" by the demons. Whereat, Dushyanta spots Shakuntala, crushes, and splices her as per the Gandharva. Before returning, he gifts his royal ring to her as a token of love. One day, Durvasa visits, but Shakuntala loses her thoughts and fails to greet him when he curses that the one she dreams of will forget her. Afterward, he calms and states that he will regain his memory by viewing his token. Time passes, Shakuntala conceives, and Kanva conveys her to Dushyanta.

Midway, while crossing a river, the ring slips off Shakuntala" 's finger and is swallowed by a fish. After landing therein, Dushyanta fails to recognize her. Humiliated, Shakuntala exits, and Kashyapa shelters her, where she delivers Bharata. The anglers detect the ring in the belly of a fish and hand it to Dushyanta, who retrieves the past. He rushes for Shakuntala but in vain. In that state of his incompetence, Dushyanta turns into grievous. At that moment, Indra calls upon him to heaven for a battle in which he triumphs. Amidst return, Dushyanta enters Kashyapa's ashram, where he is startled to look at a boy playing with wild animals who carry him to his mother, Shakuntala. Dushyanta pleads pardon from her, and she too comprehends the mishap is due to Durvasa's curse. At last, the couple reunites, and Visvamitra & Kanva get here and bless Bharata as India's greatest ruler. Finally, the movie ends happily with the crowning ceremony of Bharata.

• N. T. Rama Rao as Dushyanta
• B. Saroja Devi as Sakunthala
• Nagayya as Kanva Maharshi
• Relangi as Achigadu, fisherman
• Ramana Reddy as Buchigadu, fisherman
• Padmanabham as Madhavya
• Mukkamala as Visvamitra
• K.V.S.Sharma as Durvasa
• Geetanjali as Anasuya
• Sarada as Priyamvada
• Pushpavalli as Raja Maata
• E. V. Saroja as Menaka
• Nirmalamma as Arya Gowthami
• Baby Kutty Padmini as Bharata
• Vangara as Raja Guru
• Nirmalamma as Gautami
• Allu Ramalingaiah as Gold merchant
• Lanka Satyam as Boatman

Music was composed by Ghantasala.