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APK | January 25, 2008

Rating: ** 1/2 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

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Cast: Jagapati Babu, Arjun, Bhumika Chawla, Anushka, Sarath Babu, Dharmavarapu, Ravi Babu, Kondavalasa, Mallikharjuna Rao, MS Narayana, Radha Kumari, Rama Prabha, Jhansi and Others.
Cinematography: Ramesh Babu.
Editing: MR Varma.
Music: RP Patnaik.
Screenplay: Gopi Mohan.
Story, Dialogues & Direction: Dasarath.
Producer: Adityaram.
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 Na 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.

Anushka, Jagapathi Babu and Bhoomika

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 Na 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.

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 KHNH. 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 Magaadu), so she’s okay. Arjun has done his own dubbing, and suits the cameo he plays. Dharmavarapu, MS 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.