 Although most of the reviews were positive , some film experts were critical about the film . <unk> Datta , in his book The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature , criticised the film for " following the neo @-@ realistic style " and showcasing " same old love story without any freshness added " . Poet and journalist C. P. <unk> called the film " disturbing " in one of his articles , criticising Gopalakrishnan and his films . Shyam Benegal , a film director and a well @-@ known admirer of Gopalakrishnan 's films , also mentioned that he was not particularly pleased with Swayamvaram . Some critics have pointed out its resemblance to Ritwik Ghatak 's <unk> ( 1965 ) . Gopalakrishnan agreed on influences of Ghatak and Satyajit Ray but pointed that Swayamvaram 's treatment is different from Ghatak 's <unk> as Swayamvaram is more about the trip . 
