Dec 19, 2004 02:19 PM
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(Updated Nov 02, 2008 05:54 PM)
After watching Veer-Zaara I went with less expectation from Swades but it was more than expectation, thanks to Aushtosh Gowarikar.
The story is pretty simple - Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh),
a project manager working on a rainfall monitoring satellite known as Global Precipitation Measurement at NASA, is struck by the most acute form of guilt when he visits India to meet the Kaveriamma (Kishori Balal) he considers her as his mother.
When he visited India to meet his Kaveriamma, who moved to a small village charanpur (a fictional village said to be about 200km from Delhi). He decides to visit charnpur. Now he faced with poverty, caste system, illiteracy, child labor, lack of electricity and a host of other ills that plague India, he decides to channelise his energies into doing his bit for Charanpur. I wont tell you whole story please go and watch the movie.
First, the good things about Swades
The narration is straight-forward and moves steadily towards a predictable conclusion. Unlike a lot of recent movies that try too hard to thrill, Swades tells a simple tale in a simple manner.
The disparities between the luxurious life Mohan Bhargava (Khan) spends in America and the life in his Kaveriamma?s fictitious village Charanpur are portrayed well.
NRI Bhargava comes for two weeks with a stock of his Marlboro cigarettes and his bottles of mineral water is commendable.
There are few lighter moments in the movie. Like when Kaveriamma says, Aur tera nasha kaisa hai? (So how is your addiction?) Mohan is stumped till he realises that nasha is actually NASA. Cute.
The other light moments are provided by the postmaster-cum-postman-cum-wrestler (Rajesh Vivek, better known as the sadhu of Lagaan ) and in the scenes between Geeta (Joshi) and Mohan.
Beyond the laughter, Swades is about returning to your roots. The movie, through the narrative evokes such questions as ’What difference can one man make to an entire nation? The message is very clear.
And therein lies Gowariker’s folly.
There are times when even after making a point the movie stretches its preaching-on-everything from child marriage, untouchability, caste differences, importance of primary education, etc.
The movie does not lose focus of this primary goal. Even though there is a love story running along side the main plot, it works towards the aim and does not branch off into any dream sequence nonsense.
Swades is a movie that should be seen, preaching notwithstanding.Deeply touching and simple this movie also surprised us... we walked in fearing another Shah Rukh Khan dominated movie. But surprisingly, Khan underplays himself and lets Swades be Mohan Bhargava’s film.
Casting
Shah Rukh Khan - For the first time in a long, long while, Shah Rukh Khan, the actor, is the role he plays: Mohan Bhargava. And that is one thing director Ashutosh Gowariker should be credited for. This may not be his ’best,’ but this will definitely go down as one of his most ’genuine’ performances.
Gayatri Joshi - Newcomer Gayatri Joshi, as Gita, the village schoolteacher, and Mohan’s love interest, is fairly competent.
Kisori Ballal ? Her performance is competent also as Khan?s Amma
Rajesh Vivek ? has justified his performance as in Lagan
Master Smit Sheth- He was very cute and acted well.
Roles played by other supporting actors were well done.
Music- A R Rahman music is superb. On first hearing, A R Rahman?s music in Ashutosh Gowariker?s Swades seems to have a Lagaan hangover.
Direction- It is admirable that Gwarikar keeps the movie well-grounded and down-to-earth throughout, not succumbing to any commercial pressures like item numbers and violence.
Screen Play- Over all good
Editing ? Except few sence its good
Over all good cinematography and Choreography
Sincerely Gwarikar deserves a round of appluse once again for Swades.
