'' Swayamvaram ''is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language romantic

comedy drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film directed by K. Vijaya Bhaskar and produced by Venkata Shyam Prasad under SP Entertainments. The film stars debutants

Venu The ''venu'' (Sanskrit: ; /मुरळि; ''muraļi'') is one of the ancient transverse flutes of Indian classical music. It is an aerophone typically made from bamboo, that is a side blown wind instrument. It continues to be in use in the ...

and Laya in lead roles. ''Swayamvaram'' also marks the screenwriting debut of

Trivikram Srinivas Trivikram Srinivas (born Akella Naga Srinivasa Sarma; 7 November 1971) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his work in Telugu cinema. Recognised for his witty dialogues, humour, and philosophical themes, he is one of the high ...

who would later go on to become a noted filmmaker in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...

. ''Swayamvaram'' won four

Nandi Awards The Nandi Awards are annual awards presented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to recognise excellence in Telugu cinema, theatre, and television, as well as lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. The awards are named after the monolithic ...

. The film was remade in Tamil as ''

Love Marriage A love marriage is one which is driven solely by the couple, with or without consent of their parents, as opposed to arranged marriage. While there is no clear definition of love marriage, the term was in common use globally during the Victorian ...

'' (2001) and in Hindi as '' Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa'' (2002).

Plot

Initially, Venu and Anu despise each other. Bose asked Venu to give a singing chance to his friend Anu and then introduced her to Venu, but both were already familiar with each other due to earlier rifts. Their feelings change after frequent encounters, and love blossoms between Venu and Anu, even though Bose is also in love with Anu. When Anu's parents approach Venu with a marriage proposal, he rejects it, seeing marriage as a burden. However, Venu eventually realizes his deep love for Anu, comes to trust in marriage, and decides to marry her.

Cast

Production

developed the story of ''Swayamvaram'' during his early career in

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

. He shared the story with producer Venkata Shyam Prasad and actor

, explaining its theme with the dialogue: "Prema ane swargam nundi edu adugula dooramlo vunde narakame pelli" (). Impressed by the concept, Shyam Prasad decided to produce the film. At the time, the producers were searching for a director for the project. G. Ram Prasad, a filmmaker and friend of K. Vijaya Bhaskar, introduced Vijaya Bhaskar to the team. Ram Prasad would later collaborate with Venu and Trivikram on '' Chirunavvutho'' (2001). After their initial meeting, Vijaya Bhaskar agreed to direct the film. Having previously directed ''Prardhana'' (1991), a critically acclaimed film despite its commercial failure, Vijaya Bhaskar was drawn to the unique narrative of ''Swayamvaram''. The story stood out for its departure from traditional hero-centric plots, focusing instead on a flawed and relatable protagonist. Vijaya Bhaskar insisted that Trivikram write the dialogues. The production was completed efficiently in less than 50 days, with Laya cast as the female lead. Despite facing challenges during production and release, Shyam Prasad took significant risks to see the project through.

Music

The music for the film was composed by Vandemataram Srinivas and lyrics for the songs were penned by Bhuvanachandra.

Reception

Upon its release, ''Swayamvaram'' achieved commercial success, establishing the reputations of both Vijaya Bhaskar and Trivikram Srinivas.

Awards

References

External links

* {{Trivikram Srinivas 1990s Telugu-language films Films directed by K. Vijaya Bhaskar Indian romantic comedy-drama films Telugu films remade in other languages