'Swayamvaram' was Gopalakrishnan's debut as director. Two lovers elope to the city but life is difficult - they eventually move into a slum. Their love endures as they battle through life. The husband dies, leaving her a destitute widow with a small child. The movie closes with a knock on her door - she looks up. Moving away from the usual perceptions of melodramas, the film states a clear message of collective social responsibility - the couple's plight is not a punishment for their 'misdeeds' and their child deserves better than what the parents underwent.