‘Swag’ movie review: Hasith Goli and a brilliant Sree Vishnu strike again with a deceptive, layered satire

‘Swag’ movie review: Hasith Goli and Sree Vishnu strike again with a deceptive, layered satire. The film also stars Ritu varma, Meera Jasmine, Sharanya Pradeep and Daksha Nagarkar

When a man who wears his masculinity on his sleeve laments at how his son is growing up, displaying feminine traits, his wife tries to make him understand the importance of accepting an individual’s natural expression of gender. This segment and the portion that follows gives writer-director Hasith Goli’s Telugu film Swag the much-needed emotional anchor. Until then, the narrative is like a satire, with elements of farce and ‘absurd theatre’ as the several characters played by Sree Vishnu and the dual characters of Ritu Varma slug it out to assert the power of male versus female. 

In his second directorial venture after Raja Raja Chora, Hasith Goli discusses gender equality beyond the binaries, through a non-linear story that goes back and forth from the 1550s to the present, revealing several stories of a bloodline in the process. The experimental narrative, steeped with quirky characters, can at times test patience, but is ultimately rewarding.

The word swag is an abbreviation of the fictional Swaganika vamsam (dynasty) and also alludes to the swagger of men who enjoy the patriarchal norms of society. 

The story begins in 1551 in the fictional Vinjamara vamsam that followed matriarchal norms, ruled by Rukmini Devi (Ritu Varma). In contrast to the current social evil of female foeticide, during this queen’s rule, male foeticide was prevalent. Hasith Goli goes all out in his satirical approach to portray men with veils and women making the important decisions. He narrates a hypothetical story of one man, Bhavabhuti (Sree Vishnu), turning the tables and introducing a patriarchal system.

The 159-minute film presents the repercussions of this change in gender dynamics through multiple characters. Anubhuti (Ritu Varma, in her second role) is a civil engineer who tries to steer through a patriarchal society with her staunch feminist outlook. When she complains about sexual harassment at a construction site, not just the offender, but she too is asked to leave. Her boss argues that he would rather not have female engineers so that work is not hindered. This small episode starkly reflects the times we live in.

The crux of Swag, however, revolves around the happenings at the Vamsa Vriksha Nilayam (a family tree house) and a treasure from the Swaganika dynasty that has to be handed over to the rightful heir. The guardians of the treasury are searching for their heir since the family tree is incomplete after Yayati (Sree Vishnu).

In the meantime, Swag introduces characters who claim to be descendants of the clan - police officer Bhavabhuti and a social media influencer Singareni (both characters played by Sree Vishnu). More surprise characters are revealed as the story progresses.