Swathi Muthyam

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Swathi Muthyam
File:Swathi Muthyam.jpg
Poster
Directed byK. Viswanath
Produced byEdida Nageswara Rao
Written byK. Viswanath
Dialogue bySainath Thotapalli
Akella
StarringKamal Haasan
Raadhika
Music byIlaiyaraaja
CinematographyM. V. Raghu
Edited byG. G. Krishna Rao
Production
company
Poornodaya Movie Creations
Distributed bySri Venkata Krishna Films
Ramana Movies
Release date
  • 13 March 1986 (1986-03-13)
Running time
161 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Swathi Muthyam (transl. White pearl) is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao.[1] The film stars Kamal Haasan and Raadhika, while Gollapudi Maruti Rao, J. V. Somayajulu, Nirmalamma, Sarath Babu, and Y. Vijaya play supporting roles. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[2] Swathi Muthyam depicts the plight of a young widow who is rescued by an autistic man.

Swathi Muthyam was a box office success.[3] The film was screened at the Moscow Film Festival, the Asian and African film festival in Tashkent, the 11th International Film Festival of India in the inaugural mainstream section.[1][4][5] The film received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and the Filmfare South Award for Best Direction. The film was selected by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1986, but was not nominated.[6][3]

The film was later dubbed into Tamil as Sippikkul Muthu, released on October 2, 1986. Swathi Muthyam ran for 450 days at Pallavi Theatre in Bangalore. Upon its success, the film was later remade in Hindi as Eeshwar and in Kannada as Swathi Muthu.[7] The 2003 Hindi film Koi... Mil Gaya was inspired by Swathi Muthyam.[8][9]

Plot[edit]

Shivaiah (Kamal Haasan), an innocent and autistic orphan, lives along with his grandmother (Nirmalamma) in a village. In that village, Lalitha (Raadhika), a young widow with a five-year-old son, lives along with her brother Chalapati's (Sarath Babu) family. She and her son often get abused by her sister-in-law (Y. Vijaya), but Lalitha, having nowhere to go, bears it all.

Shivaiah often encounters Lalitha and gets appalled by her condition. One day, during Sri Rama Navami festival, Shivaiah marries Lalitha, shocking all the villagers. His grandmother (Nirmalamma) approves of his marriage as she also has much sympathy and regard for Lalitha, but his uncle and Orthodox villagers oppose that marriage as they consider remarriage of a widow as a sin. In that brawl, Shivaiah's grandmother dies, leaving innocent Shivaiah in the hands of Lalitha. Lalitha moves in with her husband with the blessings of her brother.

Some of the villagers help them to build a new life. Gradually, Lalitha makes Shivaiah understand the household duties and responsibilities of a man. Shivaiah finds work and starts to support his wife and stepson. Later they have a son and live happily for a long time. Years pass, and Lalitha becomes ill and dies in her husband's arms. In the climax, Shivaiah walks out of his house surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He carries a tulsi plant, which was his memory of Lalitha's love.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Arun Kumar and Venkatesh were the production designers for the film.[7][10] The film was shot for nearly 70 days near the shores of Rajahmundry, Torredu, Tadikonda, Pattiseema, Chennai, and Mysore.[7][10] Allu Arjun did a small role as one of the grandsons of Kamal Haasan.[11]

The scene where Haasan pretended to dance like someone who does not know to dance took so many days to get it "rightly wrong," as Haasan is a seasoned dancer.[12]

Soundtrack[edit]

Swathi Muthyam
Soundtrack album by
Ilaiyaraaja
Released1986
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LanguageTelugu
ProducerIlaiyaraaja
External media
Audio
Official Audio Jukebox at YouTube
Video
Video Song Jukebox at YouTube

All music is composed by Ilayaraja.

Track List
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Chinnari Ponnari Kittayya!"AatreyaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
2."Dharmam Sharanam Gacchaami"AatreyaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja 
3."Laali Laali"C. NarayanareddyP. Susheela 
4."Manasu Palike"C. NarayanareddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
5."Pattuseera Testanani"AatreyaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja 
6."Raama, Kanavemiraa!" (harikatha)C. NarayanareddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S.P. Sailaja 
7."Suvvi Suvvi!"C. NarayanareddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 
8."Laali Laali (sad)"Sirivennela SitaramasastriS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela 
Tamil Track List
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kannodu Kannana"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki04:49
2."Dharmam Sharanam Gacchaami"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja02:52
3."Varam Thantha Saamikku"VairamuthuP. Susheela04:38
4."Manasu Mayangum"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki05:23
5."Pattu Chelai"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja01:22
6."Raman Kathai"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S.P. Sailaja06:22
7."Thulli Thulli!"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki05:38
8."Varam Thantha Saamikku (sad)"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja03:02
Total length:34:06

Reception[edit]

Baradwaj Rangan said in 2017, "K Viswanath, this year's recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, made three films with Kamal Haasan. Sagara Sangamam is the best, Subha Sankalpam the weakest – and between these two films, chronologically and quality-wise, lies Swathi Muthyam (White Pearl)."[13]

Awards[edit]

Award / Film festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
National Film Awards September 1987 Best Feature Film in Telugu Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao
Director: K. Viswanath 		Won [14]
Nandi Awards 1987 Best Feature Film - Swarna (Gold) Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao Won
Best Actor Kamal Haasan Won
Best Director K. Viswanath Won
Filmfare Awards South 9 August 1987 Best Director K. Viswanath Won [15][16]
Cine Goer's Film Awards 19 September 1988 Best Film Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao Won [17]
Best Actor Kamal Haasan Won
Best Director K. Viswanath Won

Remakes[edit]

Year Film Language Ref.
1989 Eeshwar Hindi [18]
2003 Swathi Muthu Kannada [19]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Phalke nomination". The Hindu. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "30 Years: Swathi Muthyam...Priceless Pearl". Telugucinema.com. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Frame by frame". The Hindu. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Festival of world cinema begins Bollywood style". The Hindu. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Kamal Haasan". Bharatwaves.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "K Viswanath's film at the Oscars". The Times of India (Press release). 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (29 July 2012). "Poster boy". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "They copied it from us : Kamal Haasan [Interview]". IndiaGlitz. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (24 May 2015). "Kamal Haasan to act in a Telugu movie after 20 years". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Swati Mutyam: 30 Years & Still a Classic — Telugu360". 15 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Fans remember Bunny's 'Swathi Muthyam' stint - Telugu Movie News - IndiaGlitz.com". IndiaGlitz.com. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Shivakumar, S. (23 June 2016). "Playing the cold-hearted". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Southern Lights: Two Shots, Two Songs - Film Companion". Film Companion. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "34th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  15. ↑ "34th Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners : Kumar : Free Download & S…".
  16. ↑ "Collections". 1991.
  17. ↑ "Telugu 'cine goer's awards' presented". The Indian Express. 20 September 1988. p. 3.
  18. ↑ Kumar, S. shiva (16 May 2019). "Making, and remaking". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "The curious case of Sudeep". Deccan Herald. 6 October 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020.

External links[edit]

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