Swag

Swag

Movie Info:

The Telugu-language film ‘Swag’ is labeled as a black comedy thriller and is written and directed by Hasith Goli. Developed in cooperation with People Media Factory, the film stars Sree Vishnu and Ritu Varma with Meera Jasmine, Sunil, Daksha Nagarkar, and Ravi Babu in supporting actors. The film was released on October 4, 2024, and received mixed reviews from the critics.

Synopsis

In the 16th century Vinjamara Empire, the movie narrates the story of Queen Rukmini Devi married to her King Bhavabhuti. King Bhavabhuti, however, is not pleased with their matriarchal society and devises a way to oppress women and make it a patriarch one, which brings upon a curse that shall wipe the male bloodline of the Swaganika family. In modern times, SI Bhavabhuti, one of the heir descendants , along with his companions has received strange letters that demand him to secure his clan’s riches. The narration diffuses between then and now and with it exposes the nature of men and women, their families as well as culture.

Cast & Crew

Director: Hasith Goli.

Writer: Hasith Goli.

Producer: T.G Vishwa Prasad.

Cinematography: Vedaraman Sankaran.

Editing: Viplav Nyshadam.

Music: Vivek Sagar.

Main Cast:

– Sree Vishnu as SI Bhavabhuti

– Ritu Varma as Anubhuti

– Meera Jasmine as Vibhuthi

– Sunil as Maharishi

– Daksha Nagarkar as Kaluva

– Ravi Babu as Yayathi

IMDb Ratings

Currently, the film ‘Swag’ has an IMDb score of 6.5 out of 10 based on 1,200 reviews.

Personal Insights

According to Kunal Guha, the 2019 film ‘Swag’ explores the Janus face of satire regarding gender and social norms. Wayanad actor Sree Vishnu captures perfectly the intricacies of self-doubt that haunts his character. The character played by Ritu Varma, Anubhuti, provides support for the narrative while depicting the hardship faced by women in a male-dominated world. The film integrates themes sharper through the non-linear narrative structure and the music composed by Vivek Sagar.

Cultural Significance 

The film contemplates history and society and their structure in regards to the feminine and masculine politics: the recurrent debate between matriarchy and patriarchy. By interlacing the folklore with contemporary situations, “Swag” harshly criticizes the hierarchical divisions based on gender and other social constructs enduring over time. It further adds to the narrative concerning equality and having viewers ponder over the introduced customs and their relevance. 

Awards & Nominations

“Swag” has received a number of award nominations including a best director nod for Hasith Goli and best actor for Sree Vishnu which has seen the film recognized within contemporary Telugu cinema. 

“Swag” can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. 

This film manages to be a sociopolitical commentary aimed at disrupting social structure with humor and satire, and so it makes sense in the context of modern Indian cinema.