'Shakuntala Devi' review: Vidya offers prism into a non-conformist & ambitious Maths whiz

Director: Anu Men 

Shakuntala Devi cast: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Jishhu Sengupta, and Amit Sadh 

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video 

Everyone kws Shakuntala Devi as a Mamatician, Astrologer, and Writer, who never settled for what society offered her. However, Anu Men's Shakuntala Devi biopic throws light into personal life of mamatician - how a Maths prodigy lived her life when she was t solving hard problems on st. film starts with teen Shakuntala solving a difficult math problem, which his neighbour is unable to do. Soon, Shakuntala is puppet of her far's order, who takes her to different schools, and uses her talent to earn a living. 

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However, teen Shakuntala is wiser than her contemporaries. She promises her sister that she will leave clutches of her far and become a famous woman with a lot of money- "Why would I become a big man? I'll become a big woman," and she does. Shakuntala Devi, whose life in public has always been of a Maths Whiz had many hidden facets, which movie explores. More than her inclination towards numbers, Shakuntala Devi had a deep love for her daughter and her partner, which filmmaker Anu Men mans to showcase successfully. Shakuntala Devi's strained relationship with her daughter- Anupama, and failed relationship with her partner-Paritosh forms crux of film that also showcases how Mamatician got her title of 'Human Computer'. 

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Shakuntala Devi cast 

Shakuntala Devi cast includes Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra, Jisshu Sengupta, and Amit Sadh. While Vidya Balan portrays role of Shakuntala Devi, Sanya Malhotra, and Jisshu Sengupta essay characters of Anupama Banerji and Paritosh Banerji respectively. Meanwhile, Amit Sadh, Prakash Belawadi, and Sheeba Chaddha play prominent roles in biopic. 

Vidya Balan as Shakuntala Devi is formidable and driving force of film. While world has kwn little of Shakuntala Devi apart from her public persona, Vidya's portrayal makes one believe that Mamatician was strong, bold, and fearless. Although Shakuntala Devi and Vidya Balan are women of two different eras, however, ir real-life perspective and thought-process seem to be same.

While Vidya Balan shines in every frame, Sanya Malhotra has a poorly written character, who seems adamant and angry at mention of her mor. tension between Shakuntala Devi and Anupama never catapults on to screen. It ends at banter and seems unnecessary. Amit Sadh as Sanya's partner is charming and loveable. And so is Jisshu Sengupta as Paritosh and Sheeba Chaddha. 

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story of Shakuntala Devi, as mentioned by Anu Men in a media interaction with an online portal, is weaved around stories Anupama Banerjee narrated to filmmaker and online literature about Maths Whiz. Shakuntala Devi, is Anu Men's fourth film after Waiting (2015) and London, Paris, New York (2012). As a director, Anu Men does a neat job of directing an excellent actor like Vidya Balan and erecting a massive movie which is a beautiful ode to Mamatician Shakuntala Devi was. However, Anu Men's screenplay fails to depict tension between Shakuntala Devi and Anupama on screen. It is just little squabbles and thing more. Shakuntala Devi produced by Sony Pictures Networks India and Abundantia Entertainment premiered on Amazon Prime Video. movie released on OTT platform on Friday, July 31, 2020. 

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