'Swag', produced by People Media Factory, was released in theatres today. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.
Plot:
Bhavabhuti (Sree Vishnu), a self-styled, greedy, retired cop, receives an unexpected windfall. A letter reveals he is the rightful heir to the centuries-old Swaganika dynasty and its ancestral wealth. Eager to claim his inheritance, he arrives at a royal estate (manned by the characters played by Goparaju Ramana and Ravi Babu), only to encounter three other contenders (who look much like him) vying for the same. By a quirk of fate, the characters undergo confusion, self-discovery, and more within the four walls of the estate as their pasts converge.
Post-Mortem:
'Swag' takes its time to find its groove. The aesthetics in the first hour are dull, and the haphazard scenes only rob the screenplay of its true potential. Anubhuti (Ritu Varma) and her boyfriend, in one scene, engage in a gender war-like conversation. The way this scene ends leaves a bitter aftertaste. Bhavabhuti needs to bring a 'palaka' to prove his Swaganika roots; the element had so much potential for idiosyncratic and satirical humour.
The tragedy is that the first half is an elaborate farce except for the interval although it is anything but. Introducing a social media influencer named Singha (played by Sree Vishnu, again) doesn't add much to the gender debate. Neither do his portions stylize the proceedings. Through and through, the film's cheap production values are distracting. The first serious scene involving the male lead arrives 40 minutes into the narrative. Even when Ritu Varma's character complains about male domination and the looming threat of molestation at workplaces, you really don't feel for her character. From miracle healing to an interrupted 'homam', everything is half-baked. Meera Jasmine's is the only character that feels real in the circus. There is also a nurse character who smiles in perplexing ways. It is as if Kali possessed her!
The second half is where 'Swag' is on a firm footing. The 'Vamsa Vruksham' branches out in different ways, literally and figuratively. The pop culture references like 'Enti comedy ah?! Enti Dada-giri ah?!' suddenly start working for the audience.
The flashback episode involving a transgender child (played by Harsh Roshan of 'Mishan Impossible' fame) is so heart-touching. Sree Vishnu's transgender act is one of the finest ones in recent times. The versatility shown by the Sree Vishnu-Harsh Roshan duo deepen the film. It is the flashback episode where the film's best acts, best dramatic moments and its moral compass come together.
The final 20 minutes are okay but they could have been one helluva experience had the writing been smarter. Anyway, it was still interesting how the very many characters end up under the same roof in this rollercoaster ride of a non-linear screenplay. Vivek Sagar's music is worthy of appreciation.
Closing Remarks:
'Swag' is a quirky comedy as much as it is a social comment on the gender debate. Dull production values and a haphazard first hour are its biggest misses. A heart-touching portion in the second half is its biggest merit.
