Subhodayam

Subhodayam is a 1980 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by C. H. Narasimha Rao. It stars an ensemble cast with Chandramohan, Sulakshana, Sakshi Ranga Rao, Annapurna, Charuhasan, and Manorama playing pivotal roles.

K. V. Mahadevan composed the music for the film while Kasthuri handled the cinematography. Subhodayam explores human relationships in the context of social issues, and dignity of manual labour. In 1982, Viswanath directed the Hindi version Kaamchor.

Plot
Chandram has been an aimless and lazy slacker all his adult life, who has no goals for his future. He lives in Hyderabad with his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew. On one occasion, he gate-crashes into one of his brother's supervisor's friend's wedding ceremony and finds out that the would be groom is to live with his In-laws. To Chandram's delight, he finds out that the bride has an unmarried sister, who is the daughter of a rich industrialist. Friendship develops between the two and she helps him get a job in her father's company, later Chandram convinces her father, and marries her.

On one hand Chandram wanted to lead a life of comfort and luxury in his wife's house, while his wife chooses the life of philanthropy and donates significant amount of her properties to an orphanage, leaving Chandram in shock. Depressed by these events Chandram leaves his wife, and in disguise as a sanyasi joins the same ashram maintained by a guru where his wife works as a manual labour. How Chandram slowly gets to understand his wife's perspective, what are the events that lead to Chandram's transformation, and how he reconciles with his wife forms the rest of the plot.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.

Accolades
The film was considered to be one of the best social films directed by K. Viswanath. A retrospective review of the film by India Today "In fact, many of director K Viswanath’s films were far ahead of their time. K Viswanath started to actively explore human relationships and social issues, and each of his films struck a chord with the audience. He highlighted the respectability manual labour deserved in Subhodayam". In 1982, Viswanath directed the Hindi version Kaamchor; which was also successful.