Swagatam

Swagatam (transl. Welcome) is a 2008 Telugu film produced by Adityaram on Adityaram Movies banner and directed by Dasarath. It starred Jagapati Babu, Anushka Shetty and Bhumika Chawla in lead roles and its music was composed by R. P. Patnaik.

For the 1989 film, see Swagatham (1989 film).

Swagatam
Movie Poster
Directed byDasarath
Produced byAdityaram
Written byDasarath
(story / dialogues)
Screenplay byGopimohan
StarringJagapati Babu
Anushka Shetty
Bhumika Chawla
Music byR. P. Patnaik
CinematographyRamesh
Edited byM.R. Varma
Production
company
Adityaram Movies
Release date
  • 25 January 2008 (2008-01-25)
Running time
154 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹5 crores

Shot in New York City, Rajahmundry and Hampi, it features a romantic triangle.[1] Directed by Dasarath, the film casts Jagapati Babu as the male romantic lead playing opposite Anushka Shetty and Bhumika Chawla. Several weeks after its release, The Times of India declared the movie a box office "let down".[2]

Plot

Shailu (Anushka Shetty) is an unmarried, ill-tempered businesswoman living in the United States. She tries to care for her mother and young nephew, and manage her bills. KK (Jagapati Babu), with his young daughter, opens a shop across the street from her. This helps her find a new perspective on her life. Shailu falls in love with KK, but when she declares her feelings for him she learns that he already has a wife, Vidya (Bhumika Chawla). In a flashback, the film relates the romance of KK and Vidya. In the past, KK was an abrasive businessman when he sought a mate at Jalaja Rao Marriage Bureau. Instead, he winds up courting and marrying Vidya, an employee. KK's dilemma is simplified by the fact that one of the women in his life is dying from chronic leukemia.

Cast

Soundtrack
Swagatam
Film score by
R. P. Patnaik
Released2008
GenreSoundtrack
Length26:06
LabelAditya Music
ProducerR. P. Patnaik
R. P. Patnaik chronology
Lakshmi Kalyanam
(2007)		 Swagatam
(2008)		 Naa Manasukemaindi
(2008)

Music composed by R. P. Patnaik. All songs are hit tracks. Music released on ADITYA Music Company.

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Babooji Natho"Kaluva Krishna SaiR.P.Patnaik, Geetha Madhuri4:10
2."Manasa Mounama"VeturiKarthik, K.S.Chithra3:58
3."Kotta Kottaga"Kula ShekarMadhusri4:15
4."Unnannalu"BhaskarabhatlaTippu4:17
5."Okarikokaru"Kula ShekarSP Charan, Madhusri5:29
6."Oohala Pate"VeturiSP Balu3:57
Total length:26:06

Similarities with Kal Ho Na Ho

The film has got quite some similarities with the Hindi film, Kal Ho Na Ho.[3] starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan. A hard working, depressed girl settled in New York, supporting her mother and a child independently. A business that's not doing well. Hero coming to her rescue. A life devouring disease, etc.

Reception

Critically, the film met lukewarm reception. In its generally positive review, IndiaGlitz described the film as a "sincere effort" that "may or may not appeal to everyone as it becomes a bit trite as it progresses".[4] While noting that "we cannot say it is something that we haven’t watched before", the reviewers also commented that the film "starts off in a novel way as far as a Telugu film is concerned".[4] Addressing the high expectations of the big budget film, they conclude, "To be fair to Dasarath, he does not disappoint. In the sense that it is what one would typically go to watch in a Jagapati Babu movie".[4] AndhraCafe praised the performances specifically of Bumika, "at her very best", and found the chemistry between Babu and Bumika "a treat to watch".[5] While they also felt the director exhibited moments of brilliance in the second half of the film, they panned the climax and particularly the opening, stating that "[t]he first half of a film couldn’t be more boring than this".[5] They concluded that "[o]n a whole the film is below average fare with the weak first half, dragged climax and poor music".[5] In its review, Rediff notes that Swagatam takes the "safe, oft-trodden path" but praises the acting, describing specifically the first half of the film as "laced with entertainment".[6] They predict that the film "will go down well with those liking mushy stuff".[6]

gollark: For *basically everyone*, it does muck with reflexes and decision making.
gollark: Also reflexes and stuff, so you can't respond to cars fast enough.
gollark: Well, it impairs reflexes and stuff generally.
gollark: Hmm, so maybe just require that the torturing places will immediately let you out if you ask for it?
gollark: That affects a single person, and one who has presumably chosen to do so for whatever stupid reason. Having a government which can practically go around overreaching affects everyone.

References
  1. IndiaGlitz. (3 January 2008) "Swagatam to release on January 24" Retrieved 16-02-08.
  2. The Times of India. (7 February 2008) Glam girl in troubled waters indiatimes.com Retrieved 16-02-08.
  3. Kal Ho Na Ho Swagatam wikipedia.com Retrieved 11-21-10.
  4. IndiaGlitz. (25 January 2008) Swagatham - Quintessential Jagapati Babu film indiaglitz.com Retrieved 16-02-08.
  5. AndhraCafe. (26 January 2008) Swagatam: Movie review andhracafe.com Retrieved 16-02-08.
  6. Rajamani, Radhika. (25 January 2008) Swagatham is routine rediff.com Retrieved 16-02-08.
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