'Swathi Muthyam' hit the screens today. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.

Story:

Bala Murali (debutant Ganesh Bellamkonda) and Bhagya Lakshmi (Varsha Bollamma) prepare to get married after their respective parents stitch an alliance. They realize they have compatibility and will make for a lovely couple. Just as Bhagya trusts Bala seeing him as a sweet and loyal person, a woman appears out of nowhere with a two-year-old. The kid is Bala's biological child. The subsequent fallout of the reveal is what the film is about.

Analysis:

The topic of sperm donation and what happens when things don't go as planned in an instance of surrogacy, is what this film shows with the sole intent of generating neat humour. Director Lakshman K Krishna, a debutant, deals with the subject with dollops of situational humour without going too far in exploring the emotional ramifications of a broken wedding event.

For a storyline of this kind, the drama involving the lead pair would have taken maudlin turns in the hands of an old-fashioned team. The screenplay instead turns the gaze towards the comical conversations at Bala's household. Rao Ramesh, who plays his often satirical father, gets to display his comical side at every possible turn. The second half is where the seasoned character artist comes into his own, forking out terrific repartees.

Goparaju Ramana typifies the mindset of a noisy yet affectionate relative. His comic timing is superb and his performative streak is an asset. Subbaraju proves that he deserves roles where he looks like a loser but refuses to see the truth. It is good thar Vennela Kishore and Harshavardhan don't overstay their welcome. Their comedy is limited. The character played by Divya Sreepada should have been given a wholesome personality.

The film manages to keep the viewer engaged. There are no dull moments.

Sithara Entertainments packs in commendable production values. Despite the small town feel of the setting, the visual quality makes the film more refined than otherwise. Mahati Swara Sagar chips in with feel-good songs and a winsome background music. Suryaa's cinematography understands the slice-of-life quality of the script.

On the downside, the film doesn't quite get the psychology of Bhagya right. Her point of view is never known beyond vague reaction shots. She patches up with Bala so fast, it is as if a shattering incident never happened. Her parents, VK Naresh and Surekha Vani, don't get anything beyond the token comical reaction shots. The climax conversations could have been more well-rounded.

Verdict:

Swathi Muthyam works for the most part. It's a feel-good outing where entertainment takes precedence over drama. Give it a try and you might just leave the auditorium with a smile.