Swades: We, the People (2004)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Ashutosh Gowariker

Writers:

Ashutosh Gowariker (story) &
Ashutosh Gowariker (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 December 2004 (India)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

We, the people

Plot:

A successful Indian scientist returns to an Indian village to take his nanny to America with him and in the process rediscovers his roots.

Plot Keywords:

India | Village | NASA | Childhood Nanny | Postmaster

Awards:

12 wins & 22 nominations

Cast

Shahrukh Khan	...	Mohan Bhargav
Gayatri Joshi	...	Gita / Gitlee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raja Awasthi
Vishwa S. Badola
Kishori Balal	...	Kaveri amma
Rajesh Balwani
Makrand Deshpande	...	Fakir
Vishnudatt Gaur
Farrukh Jaffar	...	Fatimabi
Bachan Pachehra
Daya Shankar Pandey	...	Mela Ram
Rich Petrelli	...	Command and Control Center Operator
Peter Rawley	...	John Stockton
Smith Seth	...	Chikku
Eduardo Takamura	...	NASA Scientist
Lekh Tandon
Bhim Vakani
Rajesh Vivek	...	Nivaran
Rahul Vohra

Also Known As:

Our Country (International: English title) (USA)
Desam (India: Tamil title) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

India:210 min | USA:189 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | Dolby SR | Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Not Rated | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

Company:

Ashutosh Gowariker Productions Pvt. Ltd.

Trivia:

Ashutosh Gowariker was the voice of Ravana in the song "Pal Pal Hai Bhari".

Movie Connections:

Features Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973)

Soundtrack:

Dekho Na

Take a bow, Ashotosh, Shahrukh and ARR

30 minutes after I had viewed the film on Sat, I was not sure about how I felt about this film. 48 hours hence, I vividly remember most of the scenes and can lucidly state that is truly 'haunting'.

Swades is not colorful; Shahrukh doesn't appear in a GAP or POLO SPORT; there are no introductory shots; there are no romantic scenes and no fields with yellow Tulip flowers; It may be a tad slow and lengthy; But Swades hits you where your heart hurts the most; patriotic and root feelings of an individual with good intentions overcoming societal obstacle. It's brilliant, heartfelt and touching. The 'We, People' film really makes us feel like it's our film. We see in the film what we see everyday, the places as they are. It's very much contemporary and it's our story.

Compared to Veer-Zaara, it's light years ahead. Comparisons with Lagaan are bound to be there, but in some ways it's even better than Lagaan. Primarily, for the authenticity and real-life feel unlike Lagaan which was a finely crafted fairly-tale. Lagaan is all about emerging victorious and fighting against the odds. You enjoy it when you see it. Swades is about the conscience trauma of an Indian, urging him to comeback and do something for his country. It haunts you for long enough after the cinema has ended.

There's a prejudice that the film is about bringing electricity to a small village. It's not. And the most poignant scene in the film, where we see a boy selling water for 25 paisa, hits you hard. Seeing the harsh reality and we'll find it difficult to suppress our tears. It's an answer to the generation of materialistic 'we', who never shy from proclaiming our great culture and tradition, but do nothing for our country.

The asset of the film is Shahrukh Khan, looking ordinary and real but in an extra-ordinary performance. His most real since 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' and his career's best. ARR music is soulful and original. The theme song 'Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera' haunts both in terms of its visuals and wordings.

But above all, it's the good intention and the attention to detail, of director Ashutosh Gowarikar that makes wonders for this truly experimental and moving cinema.

I can and will definitely view this movie once more, to celebrate it feel and spirit. I can't predict its box office outcome, as the masses love fantasies and escapist cinema. But it's definitely a treat for those who want to see moving and believable films on a large scale. Also if we don't embrace different cinema like this or even 'the torturous but different Musafir' for that matter, we'll continue to get more 'Sarson ka Saag', 'Karva Chauths', 'Maahi Ve' filled designer romance fables from the Chopra-Johar clan!

Regardless of the box office outcome, take a bow Ashutosh, Shahrukh and ARR!