Watch Dowry Kalyanam

Dowry Kalyanam is a drama film from 1983, directed by Visu and starring Visu himself along with Srividya and S.R. Janaki in the lead roles. The movie essentially revolves around the social malpractice of dowry system in India and how it affects the lives of people, particularly women. The story is set in a traditional Brahmin family in South India where Venkatesan (Visu), the eldest son of the family, is expected to get married. Since the family is a very orthodox and traditional one, the father of Venkatesan, played by S.V. Sahasranamam, is keen on finding a bride for his son who is not just beautiful and well-educated, but also rich.

However, despite his father's expectations, Venkatesan, who is a school teacher, is quite open-minded and does not believe in the dowry system. He decides to marry a girl who he loves and who is willing to marry him without taking any dowry. When he meets Janaki (Srividya), a graduate from a poor family, who shares his ideologies, he instantly falls in love with her and decides to marry her.

But, things are not as easy as they seem. Janaki's father, who is a widower, finds it extremely difficult to arrange the dowry required for his daughter's wedding, and struggles to make ends meet. On the other hand, Venkatesan's father, who is a wealthy man, finds it difficult to accept Janaki as his daughter-in-law, because of her poor financial status. He is not willing to accept that his son could marry a girl without any dowry.

The movie beautifully portrays the social and emotional conflicts that arise due to this marriage. The film takes us through the various challenges faced by the couple and how they stand by each other through thick and thin. The apprehensions and insecurities of the family members, especially the father of the groom, are highlighted in an empathetic manner.

The film also brings to light the emotional burden that the dowry system imposes on the families of the bride. The father of the bride is shown to be struggling to fulfill the demands of the groom's family, and the financial burden that he undergoes is heart-wrenching.

The film culminates in a happy ending with a strong message against the dowry system, and how love and understanding can conquer all social and cultural barriers.

Visu's direction and performance as the protagonist of the film is marked by his sincerity, simplicity and natural acting skills. Srividya's portrayal of Janaki is also a notable aspect of the movie, where she brings out the emotional depth and strength of the character. The film's music composed by V.S. Narasimhan is soulful and memorable.

Overall, Dowry Kalyanam is a socially relevant and culturally significant film that stands the test of time. The movie brought to light the issue of dowry, and the message of the film is still relevant today, where the practice of dowry still remains a major social problem in many parts of India.

Dowry Kalyanam is a 1983 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.