Production Swayamvaram (1972 film)

1 production

1.1 title
1.2 development
1.3 casting
1.4 filming

production
title

the title refers ancient indian practice of girl of marriageable age choosing husband among list of suitors. affirmation 1 of mohandas karamchand gandhi s beliefs individual s right make own choices. film s english title international release 1 s own choice, shown @ moscow international film festival under title, on own will. other translations of malayalam title have been used, such choice, own choice, marriage choice, betrothal choice, betrothal, , selection.

development

while studying in film , television institute of india, pune, gopalakrishnan influenced new wave movement of global cinema , formed film society in kerala, named chitralekha film cooperative , classmates in 1965. gopalakrishnan had submitted romantic script kamuki film finance corporation (now national film development corporation of india or nfdc) declined finance. later, submitted script swayamvaram, film finance corporation accepted , approved loan of ₹150,000 (us$2,300). however, took 7 years him film rolling, after passed out of film , television institute of india. gopalakrishnan co-scripted film writer-director k. p. kumaran. film produced chitralekha film co-operative, kerala s first film co-operative society film production, swayamvaram being first feature film production. film s total budget ₹250,000 (us$3,900) , gopalakrishnan used money had collected documentary productions. initially, chitralekha film co-operative, producer of film had trouble distributing film, decided themselves.

casting

gopalakrishan wanted fresh faces both lead roles , had written letters various heads of colleges , universities auditions. however, did not receive response anywhere. female lead, gopalakrishnan approached sharada, 1 of successful actresses of time. acting in commercial films when gopalakrishnan asked star in swayamvaram. sharada reluctant commit herself art film, agreed when gopalakrishnan narrated complete story @ prasad studios, in chennai. male lead film, madhu, old friend of gopalakrishnan , had expressed desire act in 1 of films. time gopalakrishnan finished studies , returned ftii, madhu star in malayalam cinema. gopalakrishnan decided cast him opposite sharada. mentioning experience working gopalakrishnan , swayamvaram, madhu recollected in interview [...] when gopalakrishnan narrated story of swayamvaram, knew going different. years later mentioned wished prem nazir had acted in adoor s swayamvaram. might have won bharath award. busy days.

malayalam actor-director thikkurissy sukumaran nair cast college principal. bharath gopi, later became major actor in malayalam film industry, made film debut in swayamvaram, doing minor role dismissed factory employee gets replaced madhu. gopi noted stage actor before swayamvaram , later play lead role in gopalakrishnan s second feature film, kodiyettam, earned him reputation 1 of finest actors in indian cinema , inspired screen name bharath gopi or kodiyettam gopi . won best actor award, known bharat award , role @ 25th national film awards in 1977.

k. p. a. c. lalitha, later play notable characters in many of gopalakrishnan s films, played small role prostitute in swayamvaram. noted malayalam writer , journalist vaikom chandrasekharan nair played newspaper editor in film. gopalakrishnan praised him performance, expressing difficulties of performing oneself onscreen.

filming

due financial crises, took more 1 , half years gopalakrishnan finish film. swayamvaram 1 of first malayalam films use synchronised sound , filmed in outdoor locales, gopalakrishnan used nagra audio recorder. film shot in 2 schedules. delayed due scheduling conflicts of lead actress, sharada. working in several films @ time, gopalakrishnan had arrange schedule suit convenience. lead actor, madhu, mentioned in interview gopalakrishnan clear characters , behaviour. gopalakrishnan used discuss shoot crew before shooting.

the film marked beginning of collaboration between gopalakrishnan , cinematographer mankada ravi varma. gopalakrishnan had seen varma s work in second film cinematographer, olavum theeravum (1970), , when decided work on swayamvaram, gopalakrishnan approached varma script. reluctant, varma agreed film due extensive , written script. incidentally, varma won national film award best cinematography, career spanned on thirty years, swayamvaram. film featured no songs , has original score m. b. sreenivasan. editing of film done ramesan, whereas s. s. nair , devadathan worked on production design. sound mixing done p. devadas. total budget of film ₹250,000 (us$3,900), film finance corporation provided ₹ 150,000 loan.