Sakunthala (1932) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 25 Mar 2026
Sakunthala (1932) Review
A review of Sakunthala (1932) (Telugu drama, romance), directed by Sarvottam Badami. Starring Surabhi Kamalabai, Yadavalli Suryanarayana. 1932 Indian film in Telugu Our Rating: 4/5. Verdict: CLASSIC. Released: 1 Jan 1932.
Ratings
Our Rating
4
📖 Story
The film is a cinematic adaptation of Kalidasa's classic Sanskrit play 'Abhijnanasakuntalam'. It depicts the chance meeting and secret marriage of King Dushyanta and Sakuntala, the daughter of Sage Vishwamitra and Menaka. After the King leaves, Sakuntala is cursed by Sage Durvasa, causing Dushyanta to forget her until he sees the royal ring he gave her.
Surabhi Kamalabai: Made history as the first female lead in a Telugu talkie, delivering a performance rooted in her extensive theater background.
Yadavalli Suryanarayana: Portrayed King Dushyanta with the theatrical gravitas required for early sound cinema.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Historical significance as one of the earliest Telugu talkies
- ✓Faithful adaptation of the literary source
- ✓Pioneering use of sound in Telugu cinema
Weaknesses
- ✕Primitive technical quality due to the era's limitations
- ✕Static cinematography
- ✕Theatrical and exaggerated acting style
🎬 Direction & Writing
Sarvottam Badami utilized a stage-play approach, which was standard for early talkies, focusing on capturing dialogue and songs clearly to showcase the new technology.
📰 Critic Reviews
📰 Ratings Sources
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Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
🏆 Records & Box Office
- - The film enjoyed a successful run across the Telugu-speaking regions of the Madras Presidency, benefiting from the novelty of sound.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 100% |
| Neutral | 0% |
| Negative | 0% |
Critics
The film was received as a technological marvel at the time of its release. Modern film historians view it as a foundational pillar of the Telugu film industry, though no contemporary numeric ratings from modern web portals exist for this 1932 production.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sakunthala release in theatres?▾
Sakunthala released on 1 January 1932 (1932).
Is Sakunthala a hit or flop?▾
Sakunthala is declared a CLASSIC at the box office.
Where to watch Sakunthala online? OTT release date?▾
Sakunthala is available on None. OTT date will be updated soon.
Who directed Sakunthala?▾
Sakunthala directed by Sarvottam Badami.
Who are the main cast members of Sakunthala?▾
Sakunthala stars Surabhi Kamalabai, Yadavalli Suryanarayana.
What is the Tollybo rating for Sakunthala?▾
Tollybo rates Sakunthala 4/5. Verdict: CLASSIC.
What is the genre and runtime of Sakunthala?▾
Sakunthala — Genre: Drama, Romance, Language: Telugu.