Swathi Muthyam
Poster
Directed byK. Viswanath
Written byK. Viswanath
Dialogue bySainath Thotapalli
Akella
Produced byEdida Nageswara Rao
StarringKamal Haasan
Radhika
CinematographyM. V. Raghu
Edited byG. G. Krishna Rao
Music byIlaiyaraaja
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 romantic drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao.[1] The film stars Kamal Haasan and Radhika, 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 and attained cult status.[3] The film was screened at the Moscow Film Festival, the Asian and African film festival in Tashkent, the 11th IFFI in the inaugural mainstream section.[1][4][5] The film received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, three Nandi Awards and the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu. 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] It is currently the only Telugu film to be selected as the Indian oscar submission.

The film was later dubbed into Tamil as Sippikkul Muthu, released on October 2, 1986. Upon its success, Viswanath directed its Hindi version Eeshwar (1989) and in Kannada it was remade as Swathi Muthu (2003).[7][8][9]

Plot

Sivayya (Kamal Haasan) is an innocent orphan with a brain injury resulting in low intellectual function. He lives along with his grandmother (Nirmalamma) in a village. In that village, Lalitha (Radhika), 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.

Sivayya often encounters Lalitha and gets appalled by her condition. One day, during Sri Rama Navami festival, Sivayya 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, Sivayya's grandmother dies, leaving innocent Sivayya 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 Sivayya understand the household duties and responsibilities of a man. Sivayya 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, Sivayya 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

Production

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 dances like someone who cannot dance took so many days to get it "rightly wrong," as Haasan is a seasoned dancer.[12]

Soundtrack

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

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[13]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Suvvi Suvvi"C. Narayana ReddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki5:43
2."Vatapathra Saayiki"C. Narayana ReddyP. Susheela4:33
3."Ramaa Kanavemiraa"C. Narayana ReddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja6:54
4."Manasu Palike"C. Narayana ReddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki5:34
5."Chinnaari Ponnaari"Acharya AatreyaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki4:45
6."Dharmam Saranam"C. Narayana ReddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja & Chorus2:50
7."Pattu Cheera"K. ViswanathS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja1:19
8."Vatapathra Saayiki (Pathos)"C. Narayana ReddyP. Susheela1:04
9."Laali Laali (Ending Song)"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja2:53
Total length:33:35
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

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)."[14] Reviewing the Tamil dubbed version Sippikul Muthu, Jayamanmadhan of Kalki wrote that even if it seems like an aimless story that started somewhere and suddenly stopped, the reality is that we have connected with the story until it happened.[15]

Accolades

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 [16]
Nandi Awards 1987 Best Feature Film - Gold Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao Won [17]
Best Actor Kamal Haasan Won
Best Director K. Viswanath Won
Filmfare Awards South 9 August 1987 Best Director K. Viswanath Won [18][19]

Remakes

YearFilmLanguageRef.
1989EeshwarHindi[20]
2003Swathi MuthuKannada[21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Phalke nomination". The Hindu. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "30 Years: Swathi Muthyam...Priceless Pearl". Telugucinema.com. 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Frame by frame". The Hindu. 8 August 2009. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Festival of world cinema begins Bollywood style". The Hindu. 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. 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. 1 2 3 Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (29 July 2012). "Poster boy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "They copied it from us : Kamal Haasan [Interview]". IndiaGlitz. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (24 May 2015). "Kamal Haasan to act in a Telugu movie after 20 years". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Swati Mutyam: 30 Years & Still a Classic". Telugu360. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Fans remember Bunny's 'Swathi Muthyam' stint". IndiaGlitz. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Shivakumar, S. (23 June 2016). "Playing the cold-hearted". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Swathimuthyam". indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (4 May 2017). "Southern Lights: Two Shots, Two Songs". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  15. ↑ ஜெயமன்மதன் (26 October 1986). "சிப்பிக்குள் முத்து". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 53. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "34th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  17. ↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "34th Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners : Kumar : Free Download & S…". Archived from the original on 28 May 2017.
  19. ↑ "Collections". 1991. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  20. ↑ Shiva Kumar, S. (16 May 2019). "Making, and remaking". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "The curious case of Sudeep". Deccan Herald. 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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