Shaakuntalam

Shaakuntalam

Year: 2023

Runtime: 149 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: Gunasekhar

Echo Score: 27

Budget: $650M

RomanceFantasyHistory

Shakuntala, daughter of the celestial beauty Menaka and the sage Vishwamitra, resides in a forest under the care of her teacher, Rishi Kanva. There, she encounters King Dushyant, and their love blossoms into marriage. Following the birth of their son, Prince Bharata, Dushyant departs, promising to return. However, a sage's curse causes him to temporarily forget Shakuntala. Ultimately, destiny intervenes, reuniting them and resolving the challenges they face.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Shaakuntalam (2023)

Trace every key event in Shaakuntalam (2023) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Baby left at Kanva's hermitage

The celestial nymph Menaka leaves her baby at Rishi Kanva's hermitage before returning to heaven. This act sets Shakuntala's upbringing in the sage's care. The moment marks the mythic beginning of the story's earthly events.

Before the summer Kanva's hermitage
2

Dushyanta spares the antelope and is invited to the ashrama

In the forest during summer, King Dushyanta pursues an antelope but is stopped by an ascetic who warns that the creature belongs to Kanva's ashrama. He agrees not to kill it and is urged to visit the sage's hermitage. The invitation foreshadows a social and romantic encounter that follows.

Summer Forest
3

Dushyanta meets Shakuntala and learns her lineage

Entering the ashrama, he encounters three sisters watering plants and is soon drawn to Shakuntala, one of them. He learns that her true parents are Vishvamitra and Menaka, making her a suitable Kshatriya bride. He decides not to reveal his own identity, keeping his lineage secret for the moment.

Upon arrival Kanva's ashrama
4

Dushyanta contemplates staying; guards and a yajna

The gathering winds down as an elephant rampage arrives, yet Dushyanta's fascination with Shakuntala endures. He confesses his feelings to Vidushaka and asks for a pretext to remain in the ashrama. To avoid suspicion, he takes charge of protecting the ascetics' yajna and sends Vidushaka to the capital with a lie that his love was merely a joke.

During the yajna Kanva's ashrama
5

Shakuntala and Dushyanta wed; the prince leaves

Shakuntala confesses her love and they marry according to Gandharva rites. The king departs for the capital, promising to send a guard to escort his wife to the palace. The intimacy of their union marks a turn in the story toward separation.

After the Gandharva marriage Kanva's ashrama
6

Durvasa curses Shakuntala

In Dushyanta's absence, Shakuntala is lost in thoughts of her husband and fails to show proper hospitality to Durvasa. The sage curses that the man she is thinking of would never remember her. Anasuya mediates, offering a possible concession that memory may return upon seeing a token of recognition.

During Dushyanta's absence Kanva's ashrama
7

Token of recognition granted

Durvasa agrees to a concession, stating that memory can return when the husband sees a token of recognition. Shakuntala's companions withhold details of the curse, trusting the token will suffice. The idea of a tangible token becomes central to the later reunion.

After the curse Ashrama
8

Shakuntala loses the ring on the journey

While traveling to receive her husband in the capital, Shakuntala loses the ring Dushyanta had given her as she looks into the river's waters and is distracted by its beauty. The ring slips away and is unavailable as a token of recognition. She reaches the palace and is not recognized by the king.

During the journey River crossing; journey to the capital
9

Dushyanta forgets Shakuntala

Durvasa's curse takes effect in the wake of Shakuntala's absence, and Dushyanta loses all memory of his wife. Shakuntala, now pregnant, travels with Kanva's guidance and learns the duties of wife and daughter-in-law. The separation deepens the tragedy until a token can restore memory.

After the curse King's capital; later in the forest
10

The ring is found and memory returns

A fisherman discovers the hidden ring inside a fish, which is brought before Dushyanta amid accusations of theft. When Dushyanta sees the ring, Durvasa's curse is broken and his memory of Shakuntala is restored. He immediately resolves to find his wife.

After the discovery Pool/fish; palace view
11

Dushyanta journeys through the forest

With restored memory, the king travels deeper into the forest to seek Shakuntala. He reaches her father's ashram and learns she is no longer there. He continues the search through the woods, driven by longing and the new recollection of their bond.

Following memory restoration Forest; Kanva's ashrama
12

Bharata's reveal and the reunion

In a bold forest encounter, a young boy (Bharata) pries open the mouth of a lion and counts its teeth. The boy reveals himself as Bharata, the king's son, and leads the king to Shakuntala. The family is finally reunited, with father, wife, and son together at last.

Near the end Forest

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:22

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Shaakuntalam

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