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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
Poster
Directed by	K. Viswanath
Written by	K. Viswanath
Dialogue by	Sainath Thotapalli Akella
Produced by	Edida Nageswara Rao
Starring	Kamal Haasan Raadhika
Cinematography	M. V. Raghu
Edited by	G. G. Krishna Rao
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Poornodaya Movie Creations
Distributed by	Sri Venkata Krishna Films Ramana Movies
Release date	13 March 1986 (1986-03-13)
Running time	161 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

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, 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]

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

Plot

Shivaiah (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 (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

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
Released	1986
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Language	Telugu
Producer	Ilaiyaraaja
External media Audio Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube Video Video Song Jukebox on YouTube

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]

Awards

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	[15]
Nandi Awards	1987	Best Feature Film - Gold	Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao	Won	[16]
		Best Actor	Kamal Haasan	Won
		Best Director	K. Viswanath	Won
Filmfare Awards South	9 August 1987	Best Director	K. Viswanath	Won	[17][18]
Cine Goer's Film Awards	19 September 1988	Best Film	Producer: Edida Nageswara Rao	Won	[19]
		Best Actor	Kamal Haasan	Won
		Best Director	K. Viswanath	Won

Remakes

Year	Film	Language	Ref.
1989	Eeshwar	Hindi	[20]
2003	Swathi Muthu	Kannada	[21]

References

External links

• Swathi Muthyam at IMDb

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