#Review – I loved ‘Shakuntala Devi’ because it’s not a typical biopic

Shakuntala Devi starring actress Vidya Balan in the titular role released on Amazon Prime Video on 31 July, 2020.

Based on world-renowned Mathematician, the film revolves around her life giving us a glimpse into her childhood, her struggles, challenges, travels, profession and more.

Since the film was marketed as a biopic, it was bound to have expectations of being a more serious story of a woman going from rags to riches. Perhaps a timeline of events highlighting Shakuntala Devi’s professional achievements and accolades with the power of maths.

However, the film explored the complexities and the dichotomy of her professional brilliance and personal struggles and instability.

Shakuntala Devi is not a typical biopic – it’s an entertaining film about a woman who simply loved her individuality.

The film doesn’t present its “hero” as a perfect role model. The protagonist’s life is messy, her ideologies are flawed, her challenges are somewhat conventional… and that’s what distinguishes the human from a computer.

Balan carries the film on her shoulders. She owns the character with panache and makes you feel its brilliance along with all the absurdities.

Shakuntala Devi gives another dimension to the adept public figure who is child-like, ambitious and larger than life. Come to think of it, aren’t all “geniuses” a little eccentric?

And maybe that was the vision of the filmmaker – to show a different side of the Guinness World Record holder. The aim was not to show the obviously publicized version of Shakuntala Devi, but also show her personal conflicts.

There have been mixed reviews about the hammy acting and cheesy caricature-esque portrayal of the real-life math wiz, but it works! And it’s fine to take such creative liberties for a film… because telling a layered story in a visual medium isn’t as simple as maths. 

Am I correct?

PS. Wish we learned those unique equation solving techniques that made Maths fun in school. No?

Popcorn Rating: [4/5] 

Directed by Anu Menon, Shakuntala Devi also stars Jisshu Sengupta, Sanya Malhotra and Amit Sadh. It is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.