Synopsis
Sakuntalai is a 1940 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. S. Subbulakshmi and G. N. Balasubramaniam.
The film tells the story of Shakuntala, a mythological queen whose tale is told in the Mahabharata and dramatised by Kalidasa in the play Abhijñānaśākuntalam.
Subbulakshmi and her husband T. Sadasivam formed Royal Talkies to produce their own films, with Dungan directing the film after K. Subramanyam was unable to do so due to prior commitments.
The cast includes G. N. Balasubramaniam as King Dushyanta, along with the comedic duo of N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram.
Subbulakshmi introduced several new techniques to Tamil cinema in this film, including a notable scene where Shakuntala loses her ring.
