The trailer for 'Shaakuntalam' was released today. The film, whose story is based on the Sanskrit play Abhijnanashakuntalam written by Kalidasa, is directed by Gunasekhar. The Samantha Ruth Prabhu film will hit the screens on February 17.

The trailer gives an intro to the origin story of the titular character. The Mahabharatham says that Menaka elicited lust in the revered Rishi Vishwamitra. She gave birth to Shakuntala, who came to be brought up at Sage Kanva's hermitage.

The film, described by producer Dil Raju as his first pan-India outing, narrates the tale of how Shakuntala fell in love with King Dushyanta (Dev Mohan). The duo has a love child named Bharata (Allu Arha, the daughter of Allu Arjun, makes a debut).

Complete with VFX-fuelled palaces and Mahishmathi-like visuals, the trailer suggests that the film has been made on an ambitious scale. The VFX has been done under the supervision of Alagarsamy Mayan. Venkat and King Solomon have choreographed the stunts (that come in the form of a war sequence as well).

Mohan Babu plays Sage Durvasa. Also starring Sachin Khedekar, Kabir Bedi, Prakash Raj, Madhubala, Gautami, Aditi Balan, Ananya Nagalla, and Jisshu Sengupta, the film has music by Mani Sharma. Edited by Prawin Pudi, its cinematography is by Shekar V Joseph. With the lyrics penned by Chaitanya Prasad and Shreemani, the songs have been choreographed by Raju Sundaram.