Jisshu Sengupta, who plays Paritosh Banerji in Shakuntala Devi, spoke to indianexpress.com about the titular character and said, "It’s a fascinating journey of this woman. We don’t know how she was. We don’t know what was her relationship with her husband and daughter. When you see the film, you will know why I am saying this. People are going to know the human side of Shakuntala Devi." He added, "She was a woman ahead of her time. She was bold, brave and everything a woman can be. That was interesting. Then the way she has dealt with her relationships. People should know about her. People, who are into Mathematics, should know what she was all about. Also, working with Vidya was on my mind. I am a huge fan of Vidya so this was a great opportunity for me to work with her."
"In Paritosh Banerjee’s case, we haven’t seen him. That was a plus for me because I could do whatever I wanted to do with the character. Everything else I got to know from Anu and Vidya as they had met Shakuntala Devi’s daughter Anupama Banerjee in London. They got to know about Paritosh. Anu spoke to me at length about him. So, I learnt about his mannerism and added my own things to it," he shared about his character.
Director Anu Menon shared with indianexpress.com, "Apart from the fact that she was an amazing genius who lived an extraordinary life, the way she lived her life is a big lesson for us in today’s times. She was a woman who despite achieving so much, embraced the fact that she was not perfect. She lived life to the fullest, unapologetically on her terms, embracing the successes and failures of life."
She added, "One of the things I loved about Shakuntala Devi’s story was, she was not scared to fail. The good and the not so good existed in Shakuntala so intrinsically that you can’t love her by just loving her genius. You have to love Shakuntala for all kinds of things she did, either right or wrong. So, I think that sort of attitude is what we should celebrate. That’s what excites me as a filmmaker and that’s what excited Vidya (Balan). She has said no to many biopics in the past because it just felt not true."
In her review, The Indian Express critic Shubhra Gupta wrote, "You wish that the film stayed with Shakuntala the maths genius a little more. It would have been nice to delve into the process with which Shakuntala did what she did, even though she had no clue: numbers just spoke to her. The fact that she had political ambitions (she stood for elections, and fought Indira Gandhi in Medak for a Lok Sabha seat) is papered over briefly; a little more focus on her now-affectionate-now-thorny relationship with the father of her daughter would have shed light on why she wrote a book on homosexuality, the first of its kind in India. What made her veer towards astrology? More light on these intriguing aspects would have given us a more rounded Shakuntala." Read more
"#ShakuntalaDeviReview phenomenal representation of a genius and fearless woman who never backed out. I loved how unapologetic Shakuntala Devi was about her ambitions and dreams. Beautiful characterization by @vidya_balan ma'am," @monimitra1997 tweeted.
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Actor Aditi Raval has recommended her fans to watch Vidya Balan film Shakuntala Devi. Raval tweeted that she loved Vidya Balan in the film.
Director Anu Menon opened up on why she wanted Vidya Balan to play Shankuntala Devi. The director told indianexpress.com, “I wanted someone who could capture Shakuntala Devi’s essence. To me, that was more important than to look physically identical. What I wanted was someone who can get under her skin and get the nuances of this person. So, Vidya might not look exactly like Shakuntala, but she has that feeling of Shakuntala Devi. She has that South Indianess about her. Her attitude towards life is very similar to Shakuntala Devi. And, that has been our approach to storytelling. It’s more important to capture the attitude and essence."
"What a lovely movie! And what an amazing character, The Shakuntla Devi. @vidya_balan is as usual phenomenal in this. Great work by @sanyamalhotra07 and @TheAmitSadh too. Thanks @PrimeVideoIN for the first day show direct delivery to my living room. #ShakuntalaDevi #AmazonPrimeDay" Manik Sharma shared via Twitter.
Vidya Balan shared a video of Shakuntala Devi on Instagram. "The original #RaniHindustani! This is arguably one of my favourite videos of Shakuntala Devi. I have gone through the archives and seen so many, but her confidence and sass in this one always make me smile," she wrote.
Vidya Balan portrays the life of Shakuntala Devi in her recent film directed by Anu Menon.
Shakuntala Devi, also known as Human Computer, was never formally educated. Her performance in cognitive tests was not exceptional. However, even then she could multiply 13-digit numbers in seconds. How? Here's look at her skills, and what is known about how she cultivated them.
@aakriti0612 mentioned in a tweet, "How perfect mother doesn't exist yet every mother is perfect in her own ways #ShakuntalaDevi kudos to the team. @TheAmitSadh u never fail to spread ur charm sir & with ur beautiful smile it's like cherry on the top. Both supporting roles yet sooo Impactful @Jisshusengupta"
Director Sujoy Ghosh watched Shakuntala Devi on Friday. He shared, "i saw shakuntala devi last night. @vidya_balan is obviously having super fun with this one. and so is the film. great fun. and of course my bias towards @Jisshusengupta has to be mentioned :) see see"
Indianexpress.com's Priyanka Sharma shared what she felt about Shankuntala Devi film, which stars Vidya Balan in the titular role.
Filmmaker Umesh Shukla said Shakuntala Devi is "well director and superbly performed." In a tweet, he mentioned, "Brilliant film #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime very well directed #AnuMenon superbly performed...dignified portrayal of mathematician #Woman by my favourite @vidya_balan Congratulations @vikramix @vivekkrishnani bravo."
Sanya Malhotra shared a video on her Instagram in which the actor is dancing on Shah Rukh Khan's song.
@twit_sumeet called Vidya Balan film Shakuntala Devi a "riveting real life story."
In a tweet, he wrote, "#ShakuntalaDevi was reborn yesterday, thanks to the amazing raconteur that @anumenon1805 is. A riveting real life story of a genius who was undeniably brilliant at solving mathematics problems and blessed with sophisticated wit. Don’t miss this alluring saga of grit n greatness."
#ShakuntalaDevi is a such happy & an emotional ride .A reminder to celebrate the real “you” without letting the trappings of this society impact that. @vidya_balan, like Shakuntala has lived life by her rules & is such a perfect fit for this. @sanyamalhotra07‘s nuanced act is commendable," @rudrani_rudz mentioned in a tweet.
Nagpur Rural Police shared via tweet, "#Shakuntala_Devi has a great formula of protection from covid-19. Let's apply it and feel safe."
"Best wishes on the big day brother @Jisshusengupta, bested wishes to the inimitable @vidya_balan & the whole team," Bulbbul actor Parambrata tweeted.
In another tweet, Amit Sadh expressed gratitude towards all the audience love coming his way for his three projects that have released this week - Shakuntala Devi, Avridh and Yaara.
Amit Sadh tweeted his gratitude towards being a part of Shakuntala Devi's cast. "While I am EXCITED about all my work - as a viewer, I will FIRST be watching #ShakuntalaDevi on @PrimeVideoIN because of the one and the only Vidya Balan - and my undying love for her! She is absolutely wonderful and I am thrilled to have been given a chance to work with her," he wrote.
Kaushik LM wrote a series of tweets which read, "#ShakuntalaDevi: A film driven by its lead women; the men play the support parts. After Dirty Picture, it's another tour de force biopic performance by @vidya_balan, in a wide span of phases & looks. She's simply the best we have, when it comes to such meaty roles!"He added, "#ShakuntalaDevi: Dangal girl @sanyamalhotra07 is highly impressive playing Vidya's daughter. The mother - daughter relationship is the foundation of the film; it's a tribute to all working mothers who try their best to multi-task. #ShakuntalaDeviOnPrime GOOD ONE. Worth watching." In another tweet, he wrote, "#ShakuntalaDevi: Yet again, an incredible show by the inimitable @vidya_balan ud83dudc4c She plays the eccentric, dramatic, free-spirited 'Human Computer' with full Josh. Can't imagine anyone else in this! It's a largely engaging biopic which gets progressively better. Lovely endingud83dudc4c
Trade guru Sreedhar Pillai tweeted, "#ShakuntalaDevi bio-pic on the ‘human computer’’captures essence of a complex woman & her flaws & frailties very well. @vidya_balan is brilliant as the woman torn between maths & motherhood & @sanyamalhotra07 is perfect foil. Dir @anumenon1805 gets the essence right. Enjoyable!"
Lead actor Vidya Balan was happy to bring the film to the audience.
Sumit Kadel tweeted, "#ShakuntalaDevi - DISSATISFYING. First 30 mins is FANTASTIC, showcased the joruney of Shakuntala from a poor girl to a genius famous mathematician. Rest 1.30 hrs is dragged & boring Mother-daughter relationship which ends on a bizarre note. Vidya balan act is FAB. Rating- ????"
The Indian Express' film critic, Shubhra Gupta wrote in her review, "Balan owns the material that she is given, course-correcting every time she tends to slip into being mannered. The supporting cast is fine. Sengupta works well with Balan, and Malhotra and Sadh, as the modern couple, feel right. The film, which stays determinedly cheerful even in the grey hues of London, slides into flatness here and there. The lines are perky but sometimes startlingly contemporary (did anyone say, for example, ‘let’s take this to the next level’, back in the 50s?). But then we slide right back: this is truly a Vidya Balan show, and she carries it off, with a glint in the eye, and a lilt in the step."
Read more: Shakuntala Devi review: A Vidya Balan show
Actor Amit Sadh, who plays the onscreen husband of Sanya Malhotra in Shakuntala Devi, tweeted fans to watch the film.
Praising Shakuntala Devi team, actor Taapsee Pannu shared on Twitter, "Vidya kasam bohot pyaari picture banayi hai"
Trade guru Joginder Tuteja tweeted, "#Exclusive #ShakuntalaDevi is a very good film where right at the onset, you get to see the great mathematician’s brilliance. In fact what also sets this @anumenon1805 film apart is that certain grey shades of the lady are also shown which tell how even a genius is a human being!"