Swades (General ,2004)



Starring

Shah Rukh Khan .... Mohan Bhargava

Gayatri Joshi .... Gita

Kishori Ballal .... Kaveriamma

Master Smit Sheth .... Chikku



Director : Ashutosh Gowarikar

Musician : A R Rahman



Despite the noble intention that underscores the theme of Swades, and despite the presence of a superstar who, for the first time, comes forth as an actor rather than a star, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s film turns out to be a preachy discourse rather than an entertaining and thought provoking film.



The trouble with Swades is that the same point is driven home so many times from different ways that the movie becomes an exposition on morality and the need for the ‘educated, modern and privileged’ to do their bit for those still living in complete ignorance at the grassroot level in Indian villages.



Highlighting the contradictions of modern India, the movie tells the tale of a NASA project manager who comes to India to find his nanny. His nostalgic trip soon turns for him into the discovery of the colors and contradictions of rural India in which people live in poor conditions, practice their traditions, follow age-old customs and are ignorant and gullible. But still, these people carry a heart of gold and a desire for self-change and better tomorrow.



Swades shows the gradual transition in this ambitious, NASA-returned Indian from an indifferent yuppie to a man who begins to genuinely feel for the simple people in villages and eventually leads them into making a dam that would provide electricity to their village.



Coming from a filmmaker whose previous flick was nominated in the Oscars (for Best Foreign Film), Swades is a bit disappointing. The problem is not with movie’s theme, but the way it has been approached and presented. Many times the characters in the movie are made to verbally say the things that might have made more impact if shown subtly with visuals.



However, it is Shahrukh’s ‘smaller-than-his-usual-self’ acting that makes the film watchable. For the first time he has genuinely got under the skin of his character and not overplayed it, as he normally does.



Gayatri Joshi is certainly commendable, considering that this is her first film. Kishori Ballal is delightful and Makrand Deshpande’s presence is too marginal.



What mars Swades is its continuous preachy tone that only trivializes that noble message that the movie aimed at giving. The three-hour-plus movie, punctuated with melodious songs by A.R. Rahman, is worth watching once only. You will guaranteed be bored the second time.





Synopsis





Steering away from the usual jingoism often depicted in Bollywood patriotic films, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Swades invokes the feeling of love for one’s country by telling the story of an India-born NASA scientist who returns to his country to find his roots.



The movie takes a viewer through the heartland of rural India, revealing its beauty and the diversity of its people. A part of the movie was also shot inside the NASA research center at the Launch Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.



The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, newcomer Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal, Makrand Deshpande and a good number of other actors. Music for the film is given by A R Rahman.





Story





Mohan Bhargava (Shahrukh) is a bright, young, India-born scientist working in NASA as the project manager on a rainfall monitoring satellite known as the Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM. (It is in reality a NASA mission expected to be launched in 2007).



Working in the world’s most hi-tech and sophisticated place, Mohan often relishes seeing India on globe.



Filled with nostalgic memories of his nanny Kaveriamma, Mohan makes a journey to India to trace the woman he associates with motherly love.



For Mohan, what begins as a nostalgic trip soon turns into a journey filled with revelations as he travels into the heartland of rural India, meeting people and seeing in reality the country he had only imagined in his dreams.



Mohan finds his nanny, Kaveriamma (Kishori Ballal) in a village called Charanpur. The old woman is in care of an adorable young girl named Gita (Gayatri Joshi) who works as a schoolteacher. Also part of the family is Gita’s younger brother Chikku (Master Smit Sheth).



As Mohan spends time in village he comes across many people and age-old customs that reveal to him a new side of India. He discovers that although people are poor and ignorant, but still they carry immense riches in their hearts.



Mohan vows to do everything he can to bring awareness among people and inspire them to uplift themselves.





review by Apun Ka Choice