Swathi Muthyam (1986) :
Brief Review -
A complete textbook on Human Character Study. Indian Cinema don't need 'Forrest Gump' because we have made better version of Human Drama before Hollywood. This K. Viswanath's Classic has every kind of Human character and most probably only film to derive so many varieties of human characters. There is an innocent one, there is greedy one, there is sensible one, there is one having lost everything, one is stubborn, one is kind, one is selfish and what not. Swathi Muthyam is a complete textbook of human character study and every single character in this film covers one chapter of it. The story is of mentally slow man, whose life is recapped to his grand-daughter. How he meets his wife (who was a widow), earns his living and fights the injustice he and his wife face. Kindly note that this was 7 years before Hollywood made 'Forrest Gump' which is now considered a universal classic due to wider reach of that Industry and also because it won Oscars against better films, undeservingly (Strictly my opinion). I don't want to compare Swathi Muthyam with Forrest Gump, there's no need because i don't consider Forrest Gump that great. Yes, it is a classic, no doubts but certainly not one of the Best Of ALL TIME. People who think so should visit thousands of old Classics to realise it. Swathi Muthyam has better storyline and moreover it has concrete theories as the conflicts in its screenplay and that too without any references from national events. It's not like Forrest Gump where he would start something and after a while leave it just like that. Kamal Haasan plays an innocent orphan with low IQ but immensely kind man who sees the world only from his positive vision. He doesn't even cry when his Granny dies but later grieves for long time. He would do anything to help the people in need, and that puts him agaist the moldy traditions of so called 'sane society'. His attempts to make a widow happy are generous but that's what he sees, rest of the society don't see it that way despite the fact that they are normal but he is not. K. Viswanath has written an unbeatable script that moulds so many poignant thoughts with human life metaphors. It's a highly emotional film, i cried like 3-4 times during the last 30 minutes which is more than whatever tears i rolled down while watching Forrest Gump. Kamal Haasan is just phenomenal as Sivayya and Raadhika too has done a fabulous job. Hats off to K. Viswanath for his masterful direction and what a Melodious music Ilaiyaraaja sir has given to it. I am still humming some lines while writing this line, "Laa Li Laa Li, Laa Li Laa Li...". I have seen its bollywood remake 'Eeshwar' (1989) many times and it's a fine remake with even better Music. But i would recommend this original anytime, not just because it's Original but because it is simply Unmatchable. Strongly Recommended to every single human being who understands Human Drama and its quality proportions in Cinematic aspects. A Cult Classic!
RATING - 8.5/10*
