My quick take on Vidya Balan’s “Shakuntala Devi”.
Let me start with a warning, If you are going to watch this movie looking for the genius of the mental calculator of our times, the superfast number cruncher who had bamboozled the great US & UK mathematicians, someone who could outsmart a UNIVAC 1101 computer then maybe you will be a bit disappointed as this movie fails to glorify the super-intellect of Human-Computer, but you will be sweetly taken aback to witness the Human side of this great personality in this movie.
The movie is all about a journey of a prodigal child who is blessed with an awesome gift of mental calculations and astounding memory, It about a journey of a talent which was robbed of her childhood, her schooling instead made into a performer/ juggler who could impress people with her Math’s shows. The movie is all about the very ambitious and independent-minded girl who wants glory, limelight, and fame, and in doing so she tramples upon many lives of near and dear ones. More of a family drama, depicting a sour relationship between a mother and child both who are fiercely independent.
What I loved about the movie is that it is packed with pretty faces and wonderful performers, Vidya Balan is on the top of the list, she has slipped into the role like some sugar in candy. Her huge transformation from a bindhas teenager to Genius Human-computer, to an over-possessive mother/grandmother, is incredible. The arc of her character development is incredible (her stylist and makeover artist must be given credit). Sanya Malhotra (the Dabang girl – Babita) was one on one with Vidya Balan in terms of acting, however, the wigs used by her (to give the retro looks) were simply horrible. Amit Saad continues to impress us from where he left us in Breath 2 and handsome Bengali Star Jisshu Sengupta had a very endearing character in the movie. Secondly, the makers were able to recreate the retro looks of Europe in the 50s, the 30s of Bangalore, however, I only wished this era was shot in a sepia color as it would have added more authenticity. Thirdly, the writers were bold enough to exhibit the imperfection of Shakuntala’s personalities than glorifying her calculating prowess.
On the personal front, I was reminded of my upbringing in a house where I grew in the shadow of hugely talented and Genius artist (my Father) who too had a habit of documenting all his achievements in a black album like Shakuntala Devi, someone who was greatly gifted rather blessed in his craft, someone who had no formal education but his craft took him to different places. But the only difference between my father and the protagonist of the movie was for him the family (kids) were the foremost on priority list while Shakuntala chose fame, glory, and Arclights instead.
It an all-women team that has worked on the project, the director Anu Menon, writer Nayanika & Ishita, even the cinematographer is a Japanese lady Keiko Nakahara. It may remind you of Mangalyaan with an all-female cast. The screenplay could have been tighter and could have stopped movie digressing towards a TV soap like climax.
The family drama and the tensions in the family relationships make it a must-watch movie. Else if you are going with blinders of watching an autobiographical account of great Shakuntala Devi then you will be a bit disappointed as there are many instances of this great personality like US travel experience, Meeting with Einstein, how she was introduced to the world of ‘Gay’ community, her Vedic mathematic skills, her astrology skills. Remember Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi” and Feroz Khan’s “Gandhi my father” both talk about the same person but in former it is the “Father of Nation” being highlighted while in later it is “Father of Harilal” being showcased. Hence watch this movie as “Shakuntala Devi – mother of Anupama Banerjee”, you will definitely enjoy it.
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