Swati Mutyam


Swati Mutyam is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Raadhika in the lead roles, while Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, J. V. Somayajulu, Nirmalamma, Sarath Babu, and Y. Vijaya play supporting roles. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Swati Mutyam depicts the plight of a young widow who is rescued by an autistic man. The cult classic was selected by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1986, but was not nominated.
Swati Mutyam was a box office success. 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. 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 later dubbed into Tamil as Sippikkul Muthu, released on October 2, 1986. Swati Mutyam 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. The 2003 Bollywood film Koi... Mil Gaya was inspired by Swati Mutyam.

Plot

Shivaiah, an innocent and autistic orphan, lives along with his grandmother in a village. In that village, Lalitha, a young widow with a five-year-old son, lives along with her brother Chalapati's family. She and her son often get abused by her sister-in-law, 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 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

Arun Kumar and Venkatesh were the production designers for the film.
The film was shot for nearly 70 days near the shores of Rajahmundry, Torredu, Tadikonda, Pattiseema, Chennai, and Mysore. Allu Arjun did a small role as one of the grandsons of Kamal Haasan.
The scene where Kamal pretends to dance like someone who does not know to dance took so many days to get it rightly wrong.

Soundtrack

Reception

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."

Awards

Award / Film festivalDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient and nomineeResult
National Film AwardsSeptember 1987Best Feature Film in TeluguProducer: Edida Nageswara Rao
Director: K. Viswanath
Nandi Awards1987Best Feature Film - Swarna Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao
Nandi Awards1987Best ActorKamal Haasan
Nandi Awards1987Best DirectorK. Viswanath
Filmfare Awards South9 August 1987Best DirectorK. Viswanath

Remakes