Many art films seem fall in the trap their predecessors create. 'Shankara Punyakoti' is one such film that meanders into done-to-death themes after beginning well. Art-director turned director G Murthy picks up a hot topic but needlessly drags the story into a 'orthodox brahmin family' drama. The film makers had claimed that their film is about 'cow protection,' a pet theme of the political right wing. The curiosity was about what stand the film takes on this subject. But in the film, this very topic assumes a token presence.