As #KarismaKapoor's #Brown grips cinephiles, filmmaker Abhinay Deo and actor Jisshu Sengupta break down the crime thriller. From the big apprehension about casting Karisma to mental health issues, the actor-director duo talk about it all in an exclusive conversation with WION's Kriti Tulsiani (@tulsianikriti) and Samarpita Das (@amsam247). 

Brown: Abhinay Deo on reservations about Karisma Kapoor, Jisshu Sengupta on mental health

<p>Kajol makes her big digital debut in a role that her fans have never seen her playing before. The trailer of <em>The Trial-Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha</em> was released on Monday and features Kajol as a lawyer who has to defend her husband in court despite him cheating on her.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha</em> follows the journey of Noyonika (Kajol) as she embarks on a journey that truly makes her stand the test of time after her husband’s betrayal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from Kajol, the web series also features with Sheeba Chaddha, Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait, and Gaurav Pandey in key roles. Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, <em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka</em> is directed by Suparn S Varma and will begin streaming on 14th July 2023, exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.</p>

<p>From the looks of the trailer, the web series looks like a gritty courtroom drama that unravels moral dilemmas that drive Noyonika to take charge of her family and her independence. Driven to prove herself in the competitive world of law and navigating her way through complicated relationships while seeking justice for her husband, Noyonika treads through tough challenges served by her fate.</p>

<p><strong>Watch the trailer of <em>The Trail- Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokhaa</em> here:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F2-FTn_WUBY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><br />
<em>The Trial - Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokha</em> is a format of the original US series The Good Wife, which was created by CBS Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions. Executive producers who worked on the show include Robert and Michelle King, Ridley Scott, David Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Craig Turk, Leonard Dick, Ted Humphrey, and Keith Eisner. The format rights are licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.</p>

<p>Kajol, who plays the central character of Noyonika Sengupta, said in a statement, “The complexities are what defines a character to me and the layers surrounding Noyonika are what spoke to me when this role first came over. Noyonika felt personal, I instantly felt protective about her and that reaffirmed my faith in choosing <em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka </em>to be my first step into the long format. Suparn Varma has built a world where the vulnerability of characters meets the cruel situations posed by life. The audience will feel for and feel one with Noyonika as she makes difficult choices because I did.”</p>

<p>Jisshu Sengupta, playing the role of Rajeev Sengupta, Kajol's husband in the show, said, “Suparn Varma is a brilliant filmmaker and a storyteller. He treats his characters and their world like his own. My character Rajiv is the black to Noyonika’s white and that’s what fascinated me. Collaborating with Kajol for <em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka </em>on this was absolutely incredible, she brought out a whole new shade to Rajiv’s character. I think the audience will find their chemistry quite different and keep them hooked to find out where they end up in life.”</p>

<p>Suparn S Varma, showrunner and director for <em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka </em>said, “A choice is not defined by black and white facets, it's the gray area that leads you to make the decision.&nbsp;<em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka</em> treads in the gray area and the complexities that come with it. The characters are weaved in the story in a way that each of them navigates the story in a unique direction which builds their character arcs. Kajol as Noyonika and Jisshu Sengupta as Rajiv bring this tightly woven world together seamlessly. The series will see remarkable talent collaborating with each other for the first time and I think that will be refreshing for the audience to watch.”</p>

<p>Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, with director and showrunner Suparn S Varma, <em>The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha </em>will begin streaming on 14th July 2023, exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.&nbsp;</p>


Kajol makes her big digital debut in a role that her fans have never seen her playing before. The trailer of The Trial-Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha was released on Monday and features Kajol as a lawyer who has to defend her husband in court despite him cheating on her.

Kajol makes her big digital debut in a role that her fans have never seen her playing before. The trailer of The Trial-Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha was released on Monday and features Kajol as a lawyer who has to defend her husband in court despite him cheating on her. The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha follows the journey of Noyonika (Kajol) as she embarks on a journey that truly makes her stand the test of time after her husband’s betrayal. Apart from Kajol, the web series also features with Sheeba Chaddha, Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait, and Gaurav Pandey in key roles. Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka is directed by Suparn S Varma and will begin streaming on 14th July 2023, exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar. From the looks of the trailer, the web series looks like a gritty courtroom drama that unravels moral dilemmas that drive Noyonika to take charge of her family and her independence. Driven to prove herself in the competitive world of law and navigating her way through complicated relationships while seeking justice for her husband, Noyonika treads through tough challenges served by her fate. Watch the trailer of The Trail- Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokhaa here: The Trial - Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokha is a format of the original US series The Good Wife, which was created by CBS Studios in association with Scott Free Productions and King Size Productions. Executive producers who worked on the show include Robert and Michelle King, Ridley Scott, David Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Craig Turk, Leonard Dick, Ted Humphrey, and Keith Eisner. The format rights are licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Kajol, who plays the central character of Noyonika Sengupta, said in a statement, “The complexities are what defines a character to me and the layers surrounding Noyonika are what spoke to me when this role first came over. Noyonika felt personal, I instantly felt protective about her and that reaffirmed my faith in choosing The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka to be my first step into the long format. Suparn Varma has built a world where the vulnerability of characters meets the cruel situations posed by life. The audience will feel for and feel one with Noyonika as she makes difficult choices because I did.” Jisshu Sengupta, playing the role of Rajeev Sengupta, Kajol's husband in the show, said, “Suparn Varma is a brilliant filmmaker and a storyteller. He treats his characters and their world like his own. My character Rajiv is the black to Noyonika’s white and that’s what fascinated me. Collaborating with Kajol for The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka on this was absolutely incredible, she brought out a whole new shade to Rajiv’s character. I think the audience will find their chemistry quite different and keep them hooked to find out where they end up in life.” Suparn S Varma, showrunner and director for The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka said, “A choice is not defined by black and white facets, it's the gray area that leads you to make the decision. The Trial - Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka treads in the gray area and the complexities that come with it. The characters are weaved in the story in a way that each of them navigates the story in a unique direction which builds their character arcs. Kajol as Noyonika and Jisshu Sengupta as Rajiv bring this tightly woven world together seamlessly. The series will see remarkable talent collaborating with each other for the first time and I think that will be refreshing for the audience to watch.” Produced by Banijay Asia and Ajay Devgn FFilms, with director and showrunner Suparn S Varma, The Trial - Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha will begin streaming on 14th July 2023, exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.

The Trial trailer: Kajol to lead this gritty court room drama

<p>As Dior showcased its Fall 2023 collection at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India on Thursday, the who's who of fashion and indian film industry were there in attendance. While celebrity presence was in ample amount in the audience, Dior did not have any big celebrity showstoppers walking the ramp. Instead, the luxury brand had models walking the ramp. Among the 99 odd models who walked the ramp on Thursday night, two star daughters made their debut on the runway.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Actor Arjun Rampal and model Mehr Jesia's younger daughter Myra Rampal made her debut on the runway. Proud father Arjun Rampal took to Instagram to share a photo of his 'gorgeous little princess' and revealed that she got the chance to walk the ramp on her own merit. Rampal was a well-known model before he forayed into Bollywood. Mehr Jesia, a former Miss India, is also considered one of India's first supermodels.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"Today my gorgeous little princess, walked her first runway. That too for #christiandior The best thing about it was that she did it all on her own merit. From auditions to fittings. To be chosen from all the tuff competition. She has made us all super proud. Wishing her more success, love and happiness. Congratulations @myra_rampal you are a star &nbsp;#christiandior #gatewayofindia #fashion #fashionshow #newkidontheblock #gratitude," wrote Rampal as he shared the photo of his daughter.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Meanwhile, Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta's daughter Sara Sengupta too made her debut as a model on the same show. Sara made her debut in Srijit Mukherji's film Uma in 2018. Mukherji took to Twitter to share a photo of the young model and wrote, "My. Little. Uma. Got selected as a Christian Dior model from amongst hundreds around the world. Walked the ramp with an unbelievable confidence. And all this, absolutely on her own. PROUD PROUD PROUD!!!!"&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-dior-fall-2023-meet-tabla-virtuoso-anuradha-pal-who-left-audience-spellbound-with-her-soulful-music-577569">Dior Fall 2023: Meet tabla virtuoso Anuradha Pal who left audience spellbound with her soulful music</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My. Little. Uma. Got selected as a Christian Dior model from amongst hundreds around the world. Walked the ramp with unbelievable confidence. And all this, absolutely on her own.<br />
PROUD PROUD PROUD!!!! <a href="https://t.co/3qR2LWETZt">pic.twitter.com/3qR2LWETZt</a></p>
— Srijit Mukherji (@srijitspeaketh) <a href="https://twitter.com/srijitspeaketh/status/1641481118057926658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sara is Jisshu Sengupta and TV actress and producer Nilanjana Sengupta's elder daughter. Jisshu, a well-known face in Bengali films has also featured in multiple Bollywood films including <em>Barfi,</em> <em>Shakuntala Devi</em>, and <em>Piku </em>among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-dior-mumbai-show-rekha-steals-the-limelight-in-a-red-and-gold-saree-netizens-calls-it-iconic-577541">Dior Fall Show 2023: Rekha steals the limelight in a red and gold saree, netizens calls it 'iconic'</a></p>

<p>The show was a collaboration between Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, and Mumbai-based non-profit Chanakya School of Craft, it’s the first time a European luxury mega-brand will host a standalone show in India. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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As Dior showcased its Fall 2023 collection at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India on Thursday, the who's who of fashion and indian film industry were there in attendance.

As Dior showcased its Fall 2023 collection at Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India on Thursday, the who's who of fashion and indian film industry were there in attendance. While celebrity presence was in ample amount in the audience, Dior did not have any big celebrity showstoppers walking the ramp. Instead, the luxury brand had models walking the ramp. Among the 99 odd models who walked the ramp on Thursday night, two star daughters made their debut on the runway. Actor Arjun Rampal and model Mehr Jesia's younger daughter Myra Rampal made her debut on the runway. Proud father Arjun Rampal took to Instagram to share a photo of his 'gorgeous little princess' and revealed that she got the chance to walk the ramp on her own merit. Rampal was a well-known model before he forayed into Bollywood. Mehr Jesia, a former Miss India, is also considered one of India's first supermodels. "Today my gorgeous little princess, walked her first runway. That too for #christiandior The best thing about it was that she did it all on her own merit. From auditions to fittings. To be chosen from all the tuff competition. She has made us all super proud. Wishing her more success, love and happiness. Congratulations @myra_rampal you are a star #christiandior #gatewayofindia #fashion #fashionshow #newkidontheblock #gratitude," wrote Rampal as he shared the photo of his daughter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Rampal (@rampal72) × Meanwhile, Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta's daughter Sara Sengupta too made her debut as a model on the same show. Sara made her debut in Srijit Mukherji's film Uma in 2018. Mukherji took to Twitter to share a photo of the young model and wrote, "My. Little. Uma. Got selected as a Christian Dior model from amongst hundreds around the world. Walked the ramp with an unbelievable confidence. And all this, absolutely on her own. PROUD PROUD PROUD!!!!" Dior Fall 2023: Meet tabla virtuoso Anuradha Pal who left audience spellbound with her soulful music My. Little. Uma. Got selected as a Christian Dior model from amongst hundreds around the world. Walked the ramp with unbelievable confidence. And all this, absolutely on her own. PROUD PROUD PROUD!!!! pic.twitter.com/3qR2LWETZt — Srijit Mukherji (@srijitspeaketh) March 30, 2023 × Sara is Jisshu Sengupta and TV actress and producer Nilanjana Sengupta's elder daughter. Jisshu, a well-known face in Bengali films has also featured in multiple Bollywood films including Barfi, Shakuntala Devi, and Piku among others. Dior Fall Show 2023: Rekha steals the limelight in a red and gold saree, netizens calls it 'iconic' The show was a collaboration between Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, and Mumbai-based non-profit Chanakya School of Craft, it’s the first time a European luxury mega-brand will host a standalone show in India. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dior Fall 2023 show: These star daughters made their debut on the runway

<p>The year 2021 was a time of reckoning for many showbiz actors. While some like Gurav Adarsh and &nbsp;Parineeti Chopra swung back into action during the year, others were not so lucky.</p>

<p><strong>Mithun Chakraborty: </strong>No one would dare to question Mithunda’s place as a living legend. So what the duck was he doing in something as low-life as '12’O Clock'? I mean, &nbsp;which self-respecting actor would work with Ram Gopal Varma, the saga of whose fall from 'Satya' &nbsp;to the pits of asatya(untruth) could fill an entire logbook? What prompted our Mithunda to do something so below-the-belch?' 12 O’Clock' was the equivalent of a fart in filmmaking. The only blessing is, &nbsp;no one saw the film.</p>

<p><strong>Prabhudheva: </strong>&nbsp;Legendary choreographer-dancer, now reduced to a Salman Khan groupie, 2021 would be remembered for 'Radhe', one of the worst films of Salman Khan’s career (mis)directed by Prabhudheva. Towards the end of the year, Prabhu returned to Chennai to play the lead in the Tamil 'Pon Manickavel', a mediocre attempt to play the angry cop. But the fact is, &nbsp;his fans are far angrier.</p>

<p><strong>Saif Ali Khan: </strong>Few would dispute Saif’s place among the better contemporary actors in Bollywood. In 2021 Saif was seen attempting comedy in two pathetic films 'Bhoot Express' and 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. No one laughed. The good news on Saif’s front is that he won’t be attempting any comedy in 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Jisshu Sengupta: </strong>&nbsp;The Bengal film industry is very upset. One of Bengal’s finest contemporary actors, &nbsp;Jisshu is so desperate to break into Bollywood that he played a henchman in the Salman starrer 'Antim: The &nbsp;Final Truth'. It’s not even the main villain’s role. More of a sidekick which any Tom Dick or Harinder Would have played. An irate Bengali filmmaker, who rates Sengupta’s migratory blunder as the &nbsp;Great Betrayal spits out, “This is what they do. All the name and fame comes from their home state. Then go and throw it all away in Bollywood.” &nbsp;The fallout of the &nbsp;Great Betrayal has been massive. &nbsp;Jisshu was being considered for the Saurabh Ganguly biopic. No more.</p>

<p><strong>Rhea Chakraborty: </strong>For all of us who supported this distressed girl’s right to bounce back after being hounded for her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Rhea’s dismal screen presence and abysmal performance in 'Chehre' was a &nbsp;wakeup call. Rhea needs voice lessons and an acting coach. Urgently!</p>


The year 2021 was a time of reckoning for many showbiz actors. While some like Gurav Adarsh and Parineeti Chopra swung back into action during the year, others were not so lucky.

The year 2021 was a time of reckoning for many showbiz actors. While some like Gurav Adarsh and Parineeti Chopra swung back into action during the year, others were not so lucky. Mithun Chakraborty: No one would dare to question Mithunda’s place as a living legend. So what the duck was he doing in something as low-life as '12’O Clock'? I mean, which self-respecting actor would work with Ram Gopal Varma, the saga of whose fall from 'Satya' to the pits of asatya(untruth) could fill an entire logbook? What prompted our Mithunda to do something so below-the-belch?' 12 O’Clock' was the equivalent of a fart in filmmaking. The only blessing is, no one saw the film. Prabhudheva: Legendary choreographer-dancer, now reduced to a Salman Khan groupie, 2021 would be remembered for 'Radhe', one of the worst films of Salman Khan’s career (mis)directed by Prabhudheva. Towards the end of the year, Prabhu returned to Chennai to play the lead in the Tamil 'Pon Manickavel', a mediocre attempt to play the angry cop. But the fact is, his fans are far angrier. Saif Ali Khan: Few would dispute Saif’s place among the better contemporary actors in Bollywood. In 2021 Saif was seen attempting comedy in two pathetic films 'Bhoot Express' and 'Bunty Aur Babli 2'. No one laughed. The good news on Saif’s front is that he won’t be attempting any comedy in 2022. Jisshu Sengupta: The Bengal film industry is very upset. One of Bengal’s finest contemporary actors, Jisshu is so desperate to break into Bollywood that he played a henchman in the Salman starrer 'Antim: The Final Truth'. It’s not even the main villain’s role. More of a sidekick which any Tom Dick or Harinder Would have played. An irate Bengali filmmaker, who rates Sengupta’s migratory blunder as the Great Betrayal spits out, “This is what they do. All the name and fame comes from their home state. Then go and throw it all away in Bollywood.” The fallout of the Great Betrayal has been massive. Jisshu was being considered for the Saurabh Ganguly biopic. No more. Rhea Chakraborty: For all of us who supported this distressed girl’s right to bounce back after being hounded for her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Rhea’s dismal screen presence and abysmal performance in 'Chehre' was a wakeup call. Rhea needs voice lessons and an acting coach. Urgently!

From Mithun Chakraborty to Rhea Chakraborty: The big letdowns of 2021

Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta spoke to WION about his new film 'Shakuntala Devi', his co-star Vidya Balan, working with director Anu Menon and why he feels cinema and digital space can co-exist.

Jisshu Sengupta on 'Shakuntala Devi', working with Vidya Balan and why he feels digital is the future

<p>After teasing fans with the poster, the makers of 'Durgamati' revealed the trailer of the film on Wednesday. Backed by Akshay Kumar and T-Series, the film has Bhumi Pednekar playing the lead role.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The eerie trailer was shared by Bhumi herself on social media which will have the actress playing a strikingly different character.&nbsp;<br />
The trailer focuses an ensemble star cast featuring Arshad Warsi, Mahie Gill, Jisshu Sengupta and Karan Kapadia in prominent roles.The three-minute-twenty-second trailer is a thrilling, scary ride that tells the story of an innocent Government officer who is made the victim of a major conspiracy involving powerful forces.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The trailer showcases chilling glimpses of an ancient fort, titled- `Durgamati`. Bhumi enters the fort, only to find out that the palace has more secrets than earlier imagined. As the trailer progresses it shows Bhumi getting possessed by a spirit and switching into a ferocious avatar.<br />
<br />
"I have waited so long to share this with all of you. This one is pure sweat, blood &amp; hard work. There were moments of pure joy and times I cried of pain. My most special &amp; challenging one so far," Bhumi wrote as she shared the trailer.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Waited so long to share this one with you. Our sweat, blood &amp; hardwork <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DurgamatiTrailer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DurgamatiTrailer</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DurgamatiOnPrime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DurgamatiOnPrime</a> on Dec 11, <a href="https://twitter.com/PrimeVideoIN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrimeVideoIN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/akshaykumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@akshaykumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ashokdirector2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashokdirector2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CapeOfGoodFilms?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CapeOfGoodFilms</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BhushanKumar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhushanKumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KrishanKumar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KrishanKumar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vikramix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vikramix</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Abundantia_Ent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Abundantia_Ent</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/4UCPKMIJN3">https://t.co/4UCPKMIJN3</a></p>
— bhumi pednekar (@bhumipednekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhumipednekar/status/1331487856234176513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The actor also penned a note of thanks to the film`s cast and crew. She added, "Thank you @akshaykumar sir, @ashokdirector @ivikramix &amp; #BhushanKumar for making this happen &amp; believing in me, only gratitude and love for all of you. To the best cast ever. I adore you all and feel fortunate to have had the chance to share screen space with you :) @arshad_warsi sir, @mahieg @senguptajisshu @karankapadiaofficial."<br />
<br />
A day earlier, Pednekar had unveiled a poster from `Durgamati The Myth` and announced that the trailer will be released on Wednesday. The film was earlier titled `Durgavati'. The film will have a direct digital premiere on Amazon Prime on December 11.</p>


After teasing fans with the poster, the makers of 'Durgamati' revealed the trailer of the film on Wednesday. Backed by Akshay Kumar and T-Series, the film has Bhumi Pednekar playing the lead role.

After teasing fans with the poster, the makers of 'Durgamati' revealed the trailer of the film on Wednesday. Backed by Akshay Kumar and T-Series, the film has Bhumi Pednekar playing the lead role. The eerie trailer was shared by Bhumi herself on social media which will have the actress playing a strikingly different character. The trailer focuses an ensemble star cast featuring Arshad Warsi, Mahie Gill, Jisshu Sengupta and Karan Kapadia in prominent roles.The three-minute-twenty-second trailer is a thrilling, scary ride that tells the story of an innocent Government officer who is made the victim of a major conspiracy involving powerful forces. The trailer showcases chilling glimpses of an ancient fort, titled- `Durgamati`. Bhumi enters the fort, only to find out that the palace has more secrets than earlier imagined. As the trailer progresses it shows Bhumi getting possessed by a spirit and switching into a ferocious avatar. "I have waited so long to share this with all of you. This one is pure sweat, blood & hard work. There were moments of pure joy and times I cried of pain. My most special & challenging one so far," Bhumi wrote as she shared the trailer. Waited so long to share this one with you. Our sweat, blood & hardwork #DurgamatiTrailer#DurgamatiOnPrime on Dec 11, @PrimeVideoIN @akshaykumar @ashokdirector2 #CapeOfGoodFilms #BhushanKumar #KrishanKumar @vikramix @Abundantia_Ent @TSeries https://t.co/4UCPKMIJN3 — bhumi pednekar (@bhumipednekar) November 25, 2020 × The actor also penned a note of thanks to the film`s cast and crew. She added, "Thank you @akshaykumar sir, @ashokdirector @ivikramix & #BhushanKumar for making this happen & believing in me, only gratitude and love for all of you. To the best cast ever. I adore you all and feel fortunate to have had the chance to share screen space with you :) @arshad_warsi sir, @mahieg @senguptajisshu @karankapadiaofficial." A day earlier, Pednekar had unveiled a poster from `Durgamati The Myth` and announced that the trailer will be released on Wednesday. The film was earlier titled `Durgavati'. The film will have a direct digital premiere on Amazon Prime on December 11.

'Durgamati' trailer: Bhumi Pednekar headlines a horror-thriller

<p>Indian cinema has always put the mother on the pedestal- for her supreme sacrifice, her unconditional love, and keeping her family before her happiness. But never for her achievements or individuality. That's something Bollywood mothers are devoid of having. Filmmaker Anu Menon takes mathematician Shakuntala Devi's life as the backdrop of her film 'Shakuntala Devi' but puts forth the story of a difficult daughter and a difficult and ambitious mother who is anything like the quintessential mother that Bollywood has churned from time to time.</p>

<p>The film opens with Anuradha Banerjee (Sanya Malhotra) pressing criminal charges on her mother, the famous mathematician Shakuntala Devi(Vidya Balan) for fraudulently taking away all her money. The mother and daughter have had a strained relationship for years, with Anu severing contact with her mother to marry her boyfriend Anand (Amit Sadh) who Shakuntala thought was not good enough for her.</p>

<p>The story then travels back in time, to Shakuntala's childhood whereas a child prodigy who could solve complicated math problems with a blink of an eye, she was considered a novelty. Homeschooled, Shakuntala was the sole bread earner in her family of four where her father would take her to various schools, colleges for 'shows' where the audience would give Shakuntala complicated math problems to solve and the little girl standing on stage would solve them in a jiffy and earn money in the process.</p>

<p><img alt="Vidya " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b6170e54-e971-451c-b234-aaaa8c0e00bd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Shakuntala%20Devi%283%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>Unhappy with the way her father used her as a means to provide for the family, and angry with her mother for not standing up for her daughters, Shakuntala in her 20's - now a local star in Karnataka and Bangalore region, decides to go to London - partly to escape a horrid shooting incident she was guilty of and partly to earn big bucks independently with her family's intervention. With a bit of help from her Spanish mentor Javier, Shakuntala rises the ranks, continues with her shows and becomes popular as the only human whose brain is sharper and faster than a computer when it comes to solving maths problems. Over three decades, the film highlights Shakuntala's rise to stardom, her marriage to IAS officer Paritosh Banerji (Jisshu Sengupta), motherhood, divorce, and her complicated relationship with her daughter.</p>

<p>Now, biopics are detailed. They are always full of anecdotes that highlight the protagonist's achievements but writer Nayanika Mahtani and Menon try to show all aspects of Shakuntala Devi's character, steering clear of whitewashing. She may be an achiever, but she is also a haughty woman, aware of her fame and wealth. She is selfish, who is never willing to see the other person's perspective or understand her daughter's pleas for normalcy. It's so refreshing to see a character like Shakuntala Devi on screen, who may be a math wizard but is also a complicated personality just like any other successful individual.&nbsp; Who has had a troubled childhood, hates her family, and eventually becomes a complicated mother who feels she owns her daughter and has maximum right over because she gave birth to her. At one point an exasperated Anu asks her mother why she can't be normal like others and Shakuntala simply laughs and says "Why be normal when I can be amazing?"- a line that sums up Shakuntala and her vivacious, complicated personality.</p>

<p>The director adapts a comic bookish method to narrate the first half of the film, with lyrical dialogues(by Ishita Moitra) on several occasions thereby making the narrative fun and easy. While it talks of a complicated personality and her strained relationship with her daughter and husband, not one single moment does the screenplay lose its grip, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging film.</p>

<p><img alt="Vidya" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a0f5ec22-ec7d-434b-80c6-a85291b8952b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Shakuntala%20Devi%282%29.jpg" /></p>

<p>The film has two of the most gifted actresses of our times pitted against each other. Vidya Balan is an actor who lights up the most mediocre stories just by being in it. Fortunately, in 'Shakuntala Devi, Vidya has good writing to fall back on and she shines as the vivacious, energetic, super confident mathematician who states that 'age is just a number'.&nbsp; Particular scenes show how amazing an actor she is. A scene, in particular, cracked me up- where after arriving at the lodging house in London, her fellow lodgers (all men) ask her why she has come to London alone. She nonchalantly tells them that she had shot a man and blew off his ear. As alarmed lodgers look at her, her housekeeper (Sheeba Chaddha) comes to their rescue and announces she is joking. Realizing the damage she has caused, Shakuntala starts slowly laughing with her fellow boarders joing in relief. Its a small, almost insignificant scene, yet Vidya is so good as the unfiltered Shakuntala.</p>

<p>Vidya's performance is matched by actress Sanya Malhotra. Ever since her debut in 'Dangal' in 2016, Sanya has grown with each of her movies, proving that she is a talent to watch out for. As Anu, Shakuntala's daughter - she is the exact opposite of Vidya and the scenes where the two clash are so well directed and enacted. Its a delight to watch the two on-screen and they make for a formidable pair. Also a word of appreciation for Vidya, who at 41, has no qualms in playing Malhotra's mother. One has to be assured in one's craft to agree to play an aged character on screen.</p>

<p>The men- Jisshu Sengupta and Amit Sadh- take a step back and let the women shine. Yet, subtly they manage to create a lasting impression with their roles. Sengupta, a very popular name in Bengali films, plays the silent supportive husband who knows that his wife is not an average Indian woman and willingly lets her go and live her dream. In Bollywood, Sengupta has carved a niche for himself, playing the supportive man to a strong woman in films like 'Manikarnika', 'Piku' and 'Mardaani'. Here too, he plays the soothing factor to Shakuntala's exuberant personality. Sadh appears as a breath of fresh air and is charming as a man who is always calming his wife and her erratic behaviour. Its been a great year for Sadh so far and the man has three releases this Friday proving his versatility in each of them. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-Amit-Sadh-to-WION-on-upcoming-films--need-for-humility-in-Bollywood-317089">Also read:&nbsp;Amit Sadh to WION on upcoming films &amp; need for 'humility' in Bollywood</a></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jisshu-sengupta-on-shakuntala-devi-working-with-vidya-balan-and-why-he-feels-digital-is-the-future-317207/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>'Shakuntala Devi' has maths only as the backdrop. The scenes where she solves complicated problems and then explains how she is solving them with numbers playing on the screen are very interestingly done.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8HA1HRufYso" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>The only flaw the film has that while putting in details of her life, they rush through a lot of the scenes, leaving several things unanswered. Some moments seem to be overdramatized to make it entertaining.</p>

<p>Despite these, Shakuntala Devi makes for an entertaining watch. It redefines the image of a mother, talks about self-worth and love, shows a clash between two women not over a man but over each other's life choices- which is also a novelty in Bollywood. And it has Vidya Balan who makes every moment of the film worth it.</p>


Indian cinema has always put the mother on the pedestal- for her supreme sacrifice, her unconditional love, and keeping her family before her happiness. But never for her achievements or individuality.

Indian cinema has always put the mother on the pedestal- for her supreme sacrifice, her unconditional love, and keeping her family before her happiness. But never for her achievements or individuality. That's something Bollywood mothers are devoid of having. Filmmaker Anu Menon takes mathematician Shakuntala Devi's life as the backdrop of her film 'Shakuntala Devi' but puts forth the story of a difficult daughter and a difficult and ambitious mother who is anything like the quintessential mother that Bollywood has churned from time to time. The film opens with Anuradha Banerjee (Sanya Malhotra) pressing criminal charges on her mother, the famous mathematician Shakuntala Devi(Vidya Balan) for fraudulently taking away all her money. The mother and daughter have had a strained relationship for years, with Anu severing contact with her mother to marry her boyfriend Anand (Amit Sadh) who Shakuntala thought was not good enough for her. The story then travels back in time, to Shakuntala's childhood whereas a child prodigy who could solve complicated math problems with a blink of an eye, she was considered a novelty. Homeschooled, Shakuntala was the sole bread earner in her family of four where her father would take her to various schools, colleges for 'shows' where the audience would give Shakuntala complicated math problems to solve and the little girl standing on stage would solve them in a jiffy and earn money in the process. Unhappy with the way her father used her as a means to provide for the family, and angry with her mother for not standing up for her daughters, Shakuntala in her 20's - now a local star in Karnataka and Bangalore region, decides to go to London - partly to escape a horrid shooting incident she was guilty of and partly to earn big bucks independently with her family's intervention. With a bit of help from her Spanish mentor Javier, Shakuntala rises the ranks, continues with her shows and becomes popular as the only human whose brain is sharper and faster than a computer when it comes to solving maths problems. Over three decades, the film highlights Shakuntala's rise to stardom, her marriage to IAS officer Paritosh Banerji (Jisshu Sengupta), motherhood, divorce, and her complicated relationship with her daughter. Now, biopics are detailed. They are always full of anecdotes that highlight the protagonist's achievements but writer Nayanika Mahtani and Menon try to show all aspects of Shakuntala Devi's character, steering clear of whitewashing. She may be an achiever, but she is also a haughty woman, aware of her fame and wealth. She is selfish, who is never willing to see the other person's perspective or understand her daughter's pleas for normalcy. It's so refreshing to see a character like Shakuntala Devi on screen, who may be a math wizard but is also a complicated personality just like any other successful individual. Who has had a troubled childhood, hates her family, and eventually becomes a complicated mother who feels she owns her daughter and has maximum right over because she gave birth to her. At one point an exasperated Anu asks her mother why she can't be normal like others and Shakuntala simply laughs and says "Why be normal when I can be amazing?"- a line that sums up Shakuntala and her vivacious, complicated personality. The director adapts a comic bookish method to narrate the first half of the film, with lyrical dialogues(by Ishita Moitra) on several occasions thereby making the narrative fun and easy. While it talks of a complicated personality and her strained relationship with her daughter and husband, not one single moment does the screenplay lose its grip, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging film. The film has two of the most gifted actresses of our times pitted against each other. Vidya Balan is an actor who lights up the most mediocre stories just by being in it. Fortunately, in 'Shakuntala Devi, Vidya has good writing to fall back on and she shines as the vivacious, energetic, super confident mathematician who states that 'age is just a number'. Particular scenes show how amazing an actor she is. A scene, in particular, cracked me up- where after arriving at the lodging house in London, her fellow lodgers (all men) ask her why she has come to London alone. She nonchalantly tells them that she had shot a man and blew off his ear. As alarmed lodgers look at her, her housekeeper (Sheeba Chaddha) comes to their rescue and announces she is joking. Realizing the damage she has caused, Shakuntala starts slowly laughing with her fellow boarders joing in relief. Its a small, almost insignificant scene, yet Vidya is so good as the unfiltered Shakuntala. Vidya's performance is matched by actress Sanya Malhotra. Ever since her debut in 'Dangal' in 2016, Sanya has grown with each of her movies, proving that she is a talent to watch out for. As Anu, Shakuntala's daughter - she is the exact opposite of Vidya and the scenes where the two clash are so well directed and enacted. Its a delight to watch the two on-screen and they make for a formidable pair. Also a word of appreciation for Vidya, who at 41, has no qualms in playing Malhotra's mother. One has to be assured in one's craft to agree to play an aged character on screen. The men- Jisshu Sengupta and Amit Sadh- take a step back and let the women shine. Yet, subtly they manage to create a lasting impression with their roles. Sengupta, a very popular name in Bengali films, plays the silent supportive husband who knows that his wife is not an average Indian woman and willingly lets her go and live her dream. In Bollywood, Sengupta has carved a niche for himself, playing the supportive man to a strong woman in films like 'Manikarnika', 'Piku' and 'Mardaani'. Here too, he plays the soothing factor to Shakuntala's exuberant personality. Sadh appears as a breath of fresh air and is charming as a man who is always calming his wife and her erratic behaviour. Its been a great year for Sadh so far and the man has three releases this Friday proving his versatility in each of them. Also read: Amit Sadh to WION on upcoming films & need for 'humility' in Bollywood 'Shakuntala Devi' has maths only as the backdrop. The scenes where she solves complicated problems and then explains how she is solving them with numbers playing on the screen are very interestingly done. The only flaw the film has that while putting in details of her life, they rush through a lot of the scenes, leaving several things unanswered. Some moments seem to be overdramatized to make it entertaining. Despite these, Shakuntala Devi makes for an entertaining watch. It redefines the image of a mother, talks about self-worth and love, shows a clash between two women not over a man but over each other's life choices- which is also a novelty in Bollywood. And it has Vidya Balan who makes every moment of the film worth it.

'Shakuntala Devi' review: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra's film is a refreshing story of a mother and daughter

<p>Vidya Balan lights up the screen from the first frame of the 'Shakuntala Devi' trailer. The actress plays Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi in the biopic which has been directed by Anu Menon.<br />
<br />
The trailer highlights how Shakuntala Devi was a prodigy from a young age and went to study mathematics in Britain and eventually got the title of the 'Human Computer'. While the trailer talks of her brilliance, it also gives a glimpse of her troubled relationship with her daughter played by Sanya Malhotra.<br />
<br />
The film also stars Jisshu Sengupta as Shakuntala Devi's husband and Amit Sadh in a key role.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8HA1HRufYso" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
The film was earlier scheduled for a theatrical release in May, but owing to the pandemic, 'Shakuntala Devi' will directly release on digital now. It will stream on Amazon prime video from July 31.<br />
<br />
Considering its being headlined by the talented, versatile Vidya Balan- expectations from the film are high. Will it live up to the hype? Guess, we will have to wait till July 31 to find out.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Vidya Balan lights up the screen from the first frame of the 'Shakuntala Devi' trailer. The actress plays Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi in the biopic which has been directed by Anu Menon.

Vidya Balan lights up the screen from the first frame of the 'Shakuntala Devi' trailer. The actress plays Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi in the biopic which has been directed by Anu Menon. The trailer highlights how Shakuntala Devi was a prodigy from a young age and went to study mathematics in Britain and eventually got the title of the 'Human Computer'. While the trailer talks of her brilliance, it also gives a glimpse of her troubled relationship with her daughter played by Sanya Malhotra. The film also stars Jisshu Sengupta as Shakuntala Devi's husband and Amit Sadh in a key role. The film was earlier scheduled for a theatrical release in May, but owing to the pandemic, 'Shakuntala Devi' will directly release on digital now. It will stream on Amazon prime video from July 31. Considering its being headlined by the talented, versatile Vidya Balan- expectations from the film are high. Will it live up to the hype? Guess, we will have to wait till July 31 to find out.

'Shakuntala Devi' trailer: Vidya Balan brings her quintessential charm to the biopic of a genius

<p>It's confirmed. Vidya Balan starrer 'Shakuntala Devi' will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video on July 31. The film will get a global release on the OTT platform.<br />
<br />
The announcement was made through a video featuring Balan where she is seen asking viewers to solve several challenging mathematics problems. The video ended with Balan giving the answer of the questions as "31072020" and announcing that film will release on July 31.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCJDlGIH5TR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Experience the story of an extraordinary mind! #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime premieres July 31, on @PrimeVideoIN @sanyamalhotra_ @senguptajisshu @theamitsadh @directormenon @sonypicsprodns @ivikramix @abundantiaent @shikhaarif.sharma</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/balanvidya/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Vidya Balan</a> (@balanvidya) on <time datetime="2020-07-02T13:34:07+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jul 2, 2020 at 6:34am PDT</time></p>
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<p>The film has been directed by Anu Menon and produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra and is based on Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi who was known as the 'human computer'.<br />
<br />
The film also stars Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta, Amit Sadh and Sanya Malhotra who plays Shakuntala Devi's daughter.<br />
The screenplay is written by Anu Menon and Nayanika Mahtani, while the dialogues are penned by Ishita Moitra.<br />
<br />
The film will be available in India and 200 other countries worldwide.</p>

<p>'Shakuntala Devi' was earlier slated to hit big screens on May 8 but was postponed due to the pandemic.</p>


It's confirmed. Vidya Balan starrer 'Shakuntala Devi' will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video on July 31. The film will get a global release on the OTT platform.

It's confirmed. Vidya Balan starrer 'Shakuntala Devi' will be premiering on Amazon Prime Video on July 31. The film will get a global release on the OTT platform. The announcement was made through a video featuring Balan where she is seen asking viewers to solve several challenging mathematics problems. The video ended with Balan giving the answer of the questions as "31072020" and announcing that film will release on July 31. View this post on Instagram Experience the story of an extraordinary mind! #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime premieres July 31, on @PrimeVideoIN @sanyamalhotra_ @senguptajisshu @theamitsadh @directormenon @sonypicsprodns @ivikramix @abundantiaent @shikhaarif.sharma A post shared by Vidya Balan (@balanvidya) on Jul 2, 2020 at 6:34am PDT × The film has been directed by Anu Menon and produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra and is based on Indian mathematician Shakuntala Devi who was known as the 'human computer'. The film also stars Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta, Amit Sadh and Sanya Malhotra who plays Shakuntala Devi's daughter. The screenplay is written by Anu Menon and Nayanika Mahtani, while the dialogues are penned by Ishita Moitra. The film will be available in India and 200 other countries worldwide. 'Shakuntala Devi' was earlier slated to hit big screens on May 8 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Confirmed: Vidya Balan's 'Shakuntala Devi' to release on this date

<p>There are no signs of the lockdown ending anytime soon. The outbreak of coronavirus has ensured that most of the public spaces including cinema halls remain shit to curb the spread of the disease. Many filmmakers are now looking at digital premieres of summer releases.<br />
<br />
On Thursday, Shoojit Sircar announced that his film 'Gulabo Sitabo' would be digitally releasing on Prime on June 12 and now, a day later, Vidya Balan starrer 'Shakuntala Devi' too is headed for a digital premiere on the same OTT platform.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/digital-release-of-gulabo-sitabo-makes-multiplex-chain-inox-cry-foul-298777">Also see: Digital release of 'Gulabo Sitabo' makes multiplex chain INOX cry foul</a></strong></p>

<p>Balan took to Instagram to make the announcement. While sharing the poster of the film, she wrote, "Delighted to announce that you will get to see #ShakuntalaDevi very soon on @primevideoin with all your loved ones. Thrilled that we will be able to entertain you in these unprecedented times ."</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAMRounnhE2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Delighted to announce that you will get to see #ShakuntalaDevi very soon on @primevideoin with all your loved ones 🙂. Thrilled that we will be able to entertain you in these unprecedented times . #WorldPremiereOnPrime #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime @sanyamalhotra_ @senguptajisshu @theamitsadh @sonypicsprodns @abundantiaent @directormenon @ivikramix @shikhaarif.sharma</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/balanvidya/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Vidya Balan</a> (@balanvidya) on <time datetime="2020-05-15T02:30:28+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">May 14, 2020 at 7:30pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>Directed by Anu Menon, the film based on mathematician Shakuntala Devi's life. She was known as the human-computer.<br />
<br />
The premiere date has not been announced yet but the film will be the premiere for Prime members across 200 countries and territories in June.<br />
<br />
The film also stars Sanya Malhotra, who will be seen playing the role of Shakuntala’s daughter Anupama. The movie also stars Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta in pivotal roles.<br />
<br />
The film has been produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra. The screenplay is penned by Menon along with Nayanika Mahtani, while the dialogues are penned by Ishita Moitra.<br />
<br />
In a statement, Menon said, “Shakuntala Devi’s passion for maths and her determination to spread its joy to the world was unparalleled. She lived ahead of her times and on her own terms - and as we all strive to change the narrative of the female protagonist on screen, her story is one that calls out to be told! And there’s no one better than Vidya Balan to capture Shakuntala’s wit and wisdom! I’m so excited that the film will have its world premier on Amazon Prime Video and everyone will get to experience Shakuntala’s incredible journey and Vidya’s magical portrayal of her soon!”</p>


There are no signs of the lockdown ending anytime soon. The outbreak of coronavirus has ensured that most of the public spaces including cinema halls remain shit to curb the spread of the disease.

There are no signs of the lockdown ending anytime soon. The outbreak of coronavirus has ensured that most of the public spaces including cinema halls remain shit to curb the spread of the disease. Many filmmakers are now looking at digital premieres of summer releases. On Thursday, Shoojit Sircar announced that his film 'Gulabo Sitabo' would be digitally releasing on Prime on June 12 and now, a day later, Vidya Balan starrer 'Shakuntala Devi' too is headed for a digital premiere on the same OTT platform. Also see: Digital release of 'Gulabo Sitabo' makes multiplex chain INOX cry foul Balan took to Instagram to make the announcement. While sharing the poster of the film, she wrote, "Delighted to announce that you will get to see #ShakuntalaDevi very soon on @primevideoin with all your loved ones. Thrilled that we will be able to entertain you in these unprecedented times ." View this post on Instagram Delighted to announce that you will get to see #ShakuntalaDevi very soon on @primevideoin with all your loved ones 🙂. Thrilled that we will be able to entertain you in these unprecedented times . #WorldPremiereOnPrime #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime @sanyamalhotra_ @senguptajisshu @theamitsadh @sonypicsprodns @abundantiaent @directormenon @ivikramix @shikhaarif.sharma A post shared by Vidya Balan (@balanvidya) on May 14, 2020 at 7:30pm PDT × Directed by Anu Menon, the film based on mathematician Shakuntala Devi's life. She was known as the human-computer. The premiere date has not been announced yet but the film will be the premiere for Prime members across 200 countries and territories in June. The film also stars Sanya Malhotra, who will be seen playing the role of Shakuntala’s daughter Anupama. The movie also stars Amit Sadh and Jisshu Sengupta in pivotal roles. The film has been produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra. The screenplay is penned by Menon along with Nayanika Mahtani, while the dialogues are penned by Ishita Moitra. In a statement, Menon said, “Shakuntala Devi’s passion for maths and her determination to spread its joy to the world was unparalleled. She lived ahead of her times and on her own terms - and as we all strive to change the narrative of the female protagonist on screen, her story is one that calls out to be told! And there’s no one better than Vidya Balan to capture Shakuntala’s wit and wisdom! I’m so excited that the film will have its world premier on Amazon Prime Video and everyone will get to experience Shakuntala’s incredible journey and Vidya’s magical portrayal of her soon!”

After 'Gulabo Sitabo', Vidya Balan's 'Shakuntala Devi' headed for a digital premiere

<p>Of the stories and heroes that history has given us, Rani Laxmibai’s story is perhaps the most heart wrenching and heroic. A young girl, who has to take on too many responsibilities early in life out of desperation to save herself and her kingdom, and eventually becomes the heroine of her own story and inspires several generations – Rani Laxmibai’s tale of bravery is narrated to almost every child in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A film, made on her life, naturally would generate a lot of interest. ‘Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi’ featuring Kangana Ranaut in the titular character attempts to showcase the valour of the brave queen and thus serves the perfect platform to Ranaut to show her talent as an actor and director.</p>

<p>The first half an hour is just spent in establishing how our heroine is not your usual 19th-century girl. A bright girl, who can give veterans a tough fight in sword fighting, is kind to people and animals. Born to a Brahmin family in Varanasi, and then raised by a Peshwa, she is initially a tad hesitant to become a queen of a state. But as she marries King Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi, she does slip into the role of a queen easily- becoming a people’s queen who may break protocols but is a just, kind ruler.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The East India Company’s presence, meanwhile, looms large over the kingdom and everyone is aware that if the new couple does not provide an heir, the Company would take over. The couple does have a child, but he dies soon after. And in order to protect the kingdom, the king adopts a cousin’s child as his own. But as East India Company overrules its own laws and threatens to take over Jhansi, Laxmibai, now a widow, has no choice but fend for herself and her kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Co-directed by Ranaut and 'Baahubali' writer Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, the film quite naturally, showcases Kangana in all her glory. The range of the character is long. From a naive, innocent young girl to a courageous warrior, the character goes through myriad emotions which Kangana ably performs. She is feisty, confident and a true leader.&nbsp;Her range is admirable- you feel for her when she loses her son, you look at her with admiration when she decides to take on the responsibilities as a queen and you cheer for her when she is on the battlefield. Kangana looks breathtaking and owns every frame that she is in.</p>

<p><img alt="M" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f15a04c3-a1fe-4a6b-bcca-1cf920f47ea2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/manikarnika2.jpg" /></p>

<p>While the film gives a glimpse into Rani Laxmibai’s historic fight with British, it grossly takes liberties with facts- portraying a rather fictional tale which is heaped with token patriotism. Here’s the thing- at the time when Queen of Jhansi went to war with the British- the concept of a consolidated country did not exist. Every king was ultimately fighting to save his own kingdom from the East India Company. Sure, she was a brave, rebellious leader with great courage- but she fought to save her kingdom- not with the intent to set an example for the future generation- as is portrayed in the film.</p>

<p>The film also overlooks almost every other character who in reality had a lot to do with Laxmibai’s emergence as a rebel leader. Tatya Tope, one of the most prominent leaders of the 1857 rebellion, is reduced to a caricature character in the film. So is Gangadhar Rao, the king of Jhansi. His character sketch is almost laughable. Just because the story has the woman playing a strong-willed, brave character, it doesn’t mean that her man has to be borderline effeminate or coward- as is projected in the film.</p>

<p>There are also certain scenes that one can understand have a certain agenda and play to the gallery and those perhaps the weakest links of the film. Even if they had stuck to the story of Laxmibai, it would have made for a heartwrenching, thought-provoking film. She was, after all, an unusual choice for a leader at that time hence her emerging as the warrior queen trying to save the kingdom from foreign rule would anyway make for an epic saga. The frills of nationalism were not needed. Her story, for time immemorial, evokes a lot of pride among the countrymen. A film celebrating her valour would have had an equal impact on the nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ensemble cast comprises of some very prominent actors. There is Ankita Lokhande who plays the feisty Jhalkari Bari- a commoner who joins the struggle because of her admiration for the Queen. Bengali star Jishhu Sengupta plays the King but a poor screenplay doesn't allow him to do much with his character. Neither does Atul Kulkarni have much to do as Tatya Tope with such limited screentime. Veterans like Danny Denzongpa and Kulbhushan Kharbanda also get limited screen-time and are unable to create a lasting impression as a result. The film is written to project Kangana's talent solely and she is there in almost every scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tKmkMVaNu9g" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>While the first half stretches a bit too long and is high on melodrama, the film's second half- especially during the battle scenes- is exhilarating and exciting. Those scenes, despite blotchy VFX, are well choreographed and executed - giving the audience a sense of the catastrophe and havoc that had ensued at Jhansi. The film also has a beautiful soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy which enhances the narrative to a great extent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you know and understand Indian history well, you will find yourself feeling exasperated&nbsp;on several occasions while watching the film. It can perhaps be enjoyed more like a fictional tale, where the two directors have taken copious amount of liberty while presenting the story of India's favourite heroine. Watch it for Kangana- it is completely her show and she doesn't disappoint.&nbsp;</p>


Of the stories and heroes that history has given us, Rani Laxmibai’s story is perhaps the most heart wrenching and heroic. A young girl, who has to take on too many responsibilities early in life out of desperation to save herself and her kingdom, and eventually becomes the heroine of her own story and inspires several generations – Rani Laxmibai’s tale of bravery is narrated to almost every child in India.

Of the stories and heroes that history has given us, Rani Laxmibai’s story is perhaps the most heart wrenching and heroic. A young girl, who has to take on too many responsibilities early in life out of desperation to save herself and her kingdom, and eventually becomes the heroine of her own story and inspires several generations – Rani Laxmibai’s tale of bravery is narrated to almost every child in India. A film, made on her life, naturally would generate a lot of interest. ‘Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi’ featuring Kangana Ranaut in the titular character attempts to showcase the valour of the brave queen and thus serves the perfect platform to Ranaut to show her talent as an actor and director. The first half an hour is just spent in establishing how our heroine is not your usual 19th-century girl. A bright girl, who can give veterans a tough fight in sword fighting, is kind to people and animals. Born to a Brahmin family in Varanasi, and then raised by a Peshwa, she is initially a tad hesitant to become a queen of a state. But as she marries King Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi, she does slip into the role of a queen easily- becoming a people’s queen who may break protocols but is a just, kind ruler. The East India Company’s presence, meanwhile, looms large over the kingdom and everyone is aware that if the new couple does not provide an heir, the Company would take over. The couple does have a child, but he dies soon after. And in order to protect the kingdom, the king adopts a cousin’s child as his own. But as East India Company overrules its own laws and threatens to take over Jhansi, Laxmibai, now a widow, has no choice but fend for herself and her kingdom. Co-directed by Ranaut and 'Baahubali' writer Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, the film quite naturally, showcases Kangana in all her glory. The range of the character is long. From a naive, innocent young girl to a courageous warrior, the character goes through myriad emotions which Kangana ably performs. She is feisty, confident and a true leader. Her range is admirable- you feel for her when she loses her son, you look at her with admiration when she decides to take on the responsibilities as a queen and you cheer for her when she is on the battlefield. Kangana looks breathtaking and owns every frame that she is in. While the film gives a glimpse into Rani Laxmibai’s historic fight with British, it grossly takes liberties with facts- portraying a rather fictional tale which is heaped with token patriotism. Here’s the thing- at the time when Queen of Jhansi went to war with the British- the concept of a consolidated country did not exist. Every king was ultimately fighting to save his own kingdom from the East India Company. Sure, she was a brave, rebellious leader with great courage- but she fought to save her kingdom- not with the intent to set an example for the future generation- as is portrayed in the film. The film also overlooks almost every other character who in reality had a lot to do with Laxmibai’s emergence as a rebel leader. Tatya Tope, one of the most prominent leaders of the 1857 rebellion, is reduced to a caricature character in the film. So is Gangadhar Rao, the king of Jhansi. His character sketch is almost laughable. Just because the story has the woman playing a strong-willed, brave character, it doesn’t mean that her man has to be borderline effeminate or coward- as is projected in the film. There are also certain scenes that one can understand have a certain agenda and play to the gallery and those perhaps the weakest links of the film. Even if they had stuck to the story of Laxmibai, it would have made for a heartwrenching, thought-provoking film. She was, after all, an unusual choice for a leader at that time hence her emerging as the warrior queen trying to save the kingdom from foreign rule would anyway make for an epic saga. The frills of nationalism were not needed. Her story, for time immemorial, evokes a lot of pride among the countrymen. A film celebrating her valour would have had an equal impact on the nation. The ensemble cast comprises of some very prominent actors. There is Ankita Lokhande who plays the feisty Jhalkari Bari- a commoner who joins the struggle because of her admiration for the Queen. Bengali star Jishhu Sengupta plays the King but a poor screenplay doesn't allow him to do much with his character. Neither does Atul Kulkarni have much to do as Tatya Tope with such limited screentime. Veterans like Danny Denzongpa and Kulbhushan Kharbanda also get limited screen-time and are unable to create a lasting impression as a result. The film is written to project Kangana's talent solely and she is there in almost every scene. While the first half stretches a bit too long and is high on melodrama, the film's second half- especially during the battle scenes- is exhilarating and exciting. Those scenes, despite blotchy VFX, are well choreographed and executed - giving the audience a sense of the catastrophe and havoc that had ensued at Jhansi. The film also has a beautiful soundtrack by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy which enhances the narrative to a great extent. If you know and understand Indian history well, you will find yourself feeling exasperated on several occasions while watching the film. It can perhaps be enjoyed more like a fictional tale, where the two directors have taken copious amount of liberty while presenting the story of India's favourite heroine. Watch it for Kangana- it is completely her show and she doesn't disappoint.

'Manikarnika' review: It's a Kangana Ranaut show all the way

Manikarnika:The Queen of Jhansi: Who's playing who in the period drama

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