Cast: Jagapathi Babu, Arjun, Bhumika Chawla, Anushka, Sarath Babu, Dharmavarapu Subrahmaniam, Ravi Babu, Kondavalasa, Mallikharjuna Rao, M.S.Narayana, Radha Kumari, Rama Prabha, Jhansi and Others
Director:Dasarath
Producer:Aditya Ram
Music:R.P.Patnaik
Cinematography:Ramesh Babu
Screenplay:Gopi Mohan
Story and Dialogues:Dasarath
Banner:Adityaram Movies
Release Date:25th January, 2008
'Swagatham' is a slow and sentimental movie. Something that we expect from Dasaradh, the director, who had earlier given Santhosham starring Nagarjuna and possessing truckloads of sentimental value. 'Swagatham' has touches of 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' in the first half, completely based in New York. The second half is again an old story, mostly with the flashback sequence and a hasty end. Not a minute too soon though.
Plot:
Sailu lives in New York with her widowed mother and Chiku, her late sister’s son who she brings up as her own. Her former brother-in-law Srikanth is now married to another woman, her part-time job as an event manager is not going great guns and her boutique may close because of loses. KK sets up a textile shop opposite hers and moves in next door. He has a daughter and a past that not everyone knows. Sailu falls in love with him eventually, and the facts unfold.
Story, Screenplay and Direction:
Starting with Sailu and ending with KK, several of the characters in the first half in NY are all from 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. Even Lillete Dubey’s character has been borrowed. Remember how SRK tries to teach Priety to smile etc etc…all kept intact in Swagatham. Just the disease is different, and it comes to a different person.
Abhi picks up a rabbit somewhere, names it Devadas. That's in the first half, and the poor little Bunny is harmless then. In the second half though, the presence of the rabbit becomes intolerable. Not it's fault of course. It somehow turns into the protagonist in the second half. There's a sub-plot involving Ajay, who plays a villainous entity who likes Nandini, in trademark violent fashion. That goes nowhere unfortunately.
There is some humor in it, but lot of it just double entendres and some of it a big yawn. But Swagatham has it’s moments. Firstly, the direction and characters of the first half albeit copied. Even the style of introducing characters and the beginning resembles 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. The character of Jagapathi Babu, in the flashback is interesting, and he has done it well.
Dubbing has major lip sync problems in the first half. Only one song stands out, but otherwise the music is nothing to speak of.
Performances:
Jagapathi Babu does a good job, but somehow he’s wasted in this inspired first half. As a disciplined businessman with obvious obsessive compulsiveness, he is convincing. Bhoomika shares a good chemistry with Jagapathi Babu. Anushka thankfully gets a role where she doesn’t have to look silly and prance around ('Don', 'Okka Magadu'), so she’s okay. Arjun has done his own dubbing, and suits the cameo he plays. Dharmavarapu, M.S.Narayana, Sharath Babu are cast in roles ‘meant’ for them again. Ravi Babu was better off in Anasuya.
Music and Dance:
The music is bland. You understand how the movie is going to be when the titles come on and it says ‘Swaaagatham….’ a couple of times with female chorus in the background. Not bad, but a bit of a drag.
Last Word:
Old story. Old bottle. Actually the most touching moment is after the end of the movie, Jagapathi Babu thanks Arjun for taking time and being in the movie and always being there for him ‘Arjuna’. Now that’s touching. |  |
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