Shakuntala A modern fairy tale

grown-ups

The main character, Dushyanta, with the help of his friend and prankster Madavya, searches for a teacher in India – the greatest sage of all time. On his journey, just like in Kālidāsa’s Shakuntala, Dushyanta falls in love with the beautiful Shakuntala, but it seems that his love for her soon fades. Only when he learns of the fate of their child does he realise that what really matters is love, not the wisdom preached by modern gurus.

DUSHYANTA: The world seems out of joint, don’t you think? Everywhere we are surrounded by emptiness, rudeness and boredom. Dishonesty forms the basis of most of our interactions. Fraud, half-truths and cynicism are the repertoire of the theater which attracts the majority of people we know.

SHAKUNTALA: How terrible.

DUSHYANTA: In such a world it’s hardly unusual for the soul to get covered in the soot of the world’s imperfections.

SHAKUNTALA: I bet you have a washing machine that can make the soul clean again.

DUSHYANTA: Not me. The man whose photo I showed you. Five years ago he gave me a program I could use to clean my soul.

SHAKUNTALA: But it doesn’t work anymore. Is that why you’re looking for him? To complain?

DUSHYANTA: The program is fine. But I’ve forgotten how to switch it on.