Swades: We, the People

Plot synopsis:
Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan) is an Indian who works as a project manager at NASA in the United States. He keeps worrying about Kaveri Amma (Kishori Ballal), a maid at his home in Uttar Pradesh who looked after him during his childhood days. After his parents’ death, Kaveri Amma went to live in an old age home in Delhi and lost contact with Mohan. Mohan wishes to go to India and bring Kaveri Amma back with him to the US. He takes a few weeks off and travels to India. He goes to the old age home but learns that Kaveri Amma no longer lives there and went to a village named Charanpur a few years ago. Mohan then decides to travel to Charanpur, in Uttar Pradesh.
Mohan decides to rent a caravan to reach the village fearing that he might not get the required facilities there. Upon reaching Charanpur, he meets Kaveri Amma and gets to know that it was Gita (Gayatri Joshi), Mohan’s childhood friend, who had brought Kaveri Amma following her parents’ death to stay with her. Gita runs a school in Charanpur and works hard to improve the living conditions of the villagers through education. However, the village is divided largely by caste and religious beliefs. Gita does not like Mohan’s arrival as she thinks that he will take Kaveri Amma back with him to the US, leaving her and her younger brother Chikku alone. Kaveri Amma tells Mohan that she needs to get Gita married first, and that it is her responsibility. Gita believes in women empowerment and gender equality. This attracts Mohan towards Gita and he too tries to help her by campaigning for education among backward communities and also girls.
Slowly love blossoms between Mohan and Gita. Kaveri Amma asks Mohan to visit a nearby village named Kodi, and collect money from a man named Haridas who owes it to Gita. Mohan visits Kodi and feels pity seeing Haridas' poor condition, which is such that he is unable to provide his family with meals everyday. Haridas tells Mohan that since his caste profession of a weaver wasn't earning him any money, he shifted to tenant farming.But this change in profession led to his ostracization from the village and the villagers even denied him water for his crops. Mohan understands the pathetic situation and realises that many villages in India are still like Kodi. He returns to Charanpur with a heavy heart and decides to do something for the welfare of Charanpur.
Mohan extends his leave by three more weeks. He learns that electricity inconsistency and frequent power cuts are a big problem in Charanpur. He decides to set up a small hydroelectric power generation facility from a nearby water source. Mohan purchases all the equipment needed from his own funds and oversees the building of the power generation unit. The unit works and the village gets sufficient, consistent power from it.
However, Mohan is repeatedly called by NASA officials as the NASA project he was working on is reaching important stages and he has to return to the US soon. Kaveri Amma tells him that she prefers to stay in Charanpur as it will be difficult for her to adapt to a new country at her age. Gita also tells him that she will not settle down in another country and she would prefer it if Mohan stayed in India with her. Mohan returns to the US with a heavy heart to complete the project. However, in the US, he has flashbacks of his time in India and wishes to return. After the successful completion of his project, he leaves the US and returns to India with intentions of working at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, from where he can also work with NASA. The movie ends showing Mohan and Gita staying in Charanpur following their wedding.

Tags: cult, romantic

Review:
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.
A worth watching Movie by Ashutosh Gowariker.Leaves a impression on mind after you have seen the movie.Though there are technical faults in the storyline yet those can be left aside on the backdrop of a heart-touching theme.
The social jinx in the rural India which should have been broken long before are now hampering the progress of the villages.The movie is another Gem after Lagaan in the collection of Ashutosh and Indian Cinema as a whole.Great Job by Shahrukh.
But I think the rather leisurely pace of the movie is required because it gives enough time for the protagonist, Mohan Bhargava, to come to India (with his mineral water and caravan) and start to fall in love with its beauty as well as understand its incongruities which frustrate us all as well.
2. The boy serving water at 25paise to the train passengers and Mohan Bhargava's reactionI am saddened that Indians both in India and around the world have not liked this movie.
We must realize that we have to do something for this country....Shahrukh Khan has done one of his best jobs in his lifetime....by selecting the movie as well as performance wise.....all the characters of the movie has done a brilliant job .Plz watch this beautiful movie at least once ..
This movie is without doubt ...one of the greatest Hindi movies ever made.This movies combines with superb direction and amazing performances from all the artists.And Sharukh khan..........he comes up with the outstanding performance and proves that...he is an amazing actor....i feel he is not utilized properly by other directors except few for his talent......hope he does more movies like this.Gayatri was beautiful and perfect and no one could have done better than her.The music and background theme is awesome and hits perfectly to the scenes.I watch this movie at least twice in a year.Truly masterpiece from Auhotosh ans Srk.As few jerks say its boring...i promise it does not bore even for a min....i recommend this Gem of movie to all who love movie which is entertaining as well as thought provoking....and truly inspiring.......watch it least once in lifetime.........Swades :).
However, it has to be said that AR Rehman's background score especially during the scenes when Shahrukh Khan travels by train and boat is nothing short of brilliant.The movie also fell a little short in that it failed to address all the ideas about India that it raised.
I don't want to state that it was the best Hindi movie I have seen in my life, but it is truly one of the best of Shah Rukh Khan's work and Bollywood.
Very real third-world problems are graphically delineated, but as in other Bollywood films, there is always time for song and dance, and it's fun to take a break.I do not claim greatness for this film, but I was highly entertained every minute and admired the craft it took to marry the music, images and story.
Swades by far has touched me the most, as it not only combines that happy musical abandonment I have come to enjoy about India films, but this one reaches a new level.
The movie creates a magic, which makes you believe, so what if only for a swift second, that you can help change the face of India too.In Swades, you don't see Sharukh Khan as Sharukh Khan, but as Mohan Bhargava, a feat difficult to achieve even by the most seasoned actors.
Not only does Mohan fall in love with the beautiful and graceful Gayatri Joshi, but also begins on his journey of knowing rural India.Mohan's moment of realization comes, when he sees the poor peasant so stuck in the Indian caste system, that he can barely feed his family.
The omnipresent NRI-symbol, the Bisleri bottle finally gives way to a glass of water in a earthen vessel for a meagre 25 paise being sold by a young child at the Ajite Railway station.Swades touches rampant problems of rural India, child marriage, caste-ism, lack of education.
There is an other point the movie touched, which nobody before has ever dared to - Mohan begs to differ as the elders at a village gathering say that India is the greatest country in the world because we have 'values and ideals'.
Some part of Sharukh Khan is a Mohan Bhargava, some part of him believes in the same idea of India Empowered.Gayatri Joshi's made a great debut in this movie.
Every time i watch this movie I always get goosebumps and feel like returning back to India to do something for my family, my people.
Every scene makes sense and some of the dialogues are are top-notch.After lagaan director ashutosh gowarikar takes the story telling to new heights.what makes movie watching more enjoyable is fantastic music by AR Rahman and brilliant lyrics by javed akhtar.i have watched it many times and can still watch it again and again, if you are looking for soulful cinema, swades is the pick for you.
This is my first review of movie..Before watching this movie many friends told me its rather boring or slow and I m not lover of slow or arty movies..But when I saw the "Swades" I was stunned by the brilliance of Ashutosh Gowariker and Shahrukh Khan.Movie is almost 200 Mintutes long...But you will not feel a single minute bore..Movie cover many India's issues like 'Poverty','Literacy','Women Empowerment' etc...A.R.Rehman's music takes movie to the another level absolutely superb..This Movie makes you feel for your country , think for your country and also lighten up your patriotism..Kudos to the whole team of the movie for such a wonderful movie...Excellent !!
I know Swades is not your typical romantic movie (where the storyline is boy and girl meet, they fall in love but cannot be together for whatever reason then by the end they get together) but that does not mean that it is a crap movie.I remember when I first went to watch this film in the cinema, I was not that bothered about watching it seeing as I had not heard much about it.
However, after watching it over 5-6 times, I realise that Swades is a great movie because it highlights the reality of what villagers in India face.
The storyline focuses on Mohan Bhargava (Shahrukh Khan) who returns to India in search of his childhood nanny and in the process remembers how much he loves his country.One thing that I actually think is good is that critics noticed how well Khan portrayed the title role of the film, more importantly Khan won an Oscar for his performance!.
The director uses this to drive the point home and make the audience question their beliefs, values and thinking.Lots of movies have come which have a lot of Jism, a little Murder and lots of Hawas but this one has a soul and is thought provoking.
Shah Rukh proved that he is a world class actor through this movie.India is one of the ancient countries with a great heritage and culture.
It's a bane of any director who makes a really good movie early on in his career that each of his subsequent creations are fated to be compared with the famous one, and Ashutosh Gowariker did have a tough act to follow.
Thank GOD for people like Mr. Gowarikar who aren't afraid to "think outside of the box." As a female movie-goer, I have been looking forward to watching this film since I first saw those trailers on SONY.
this movie is an eye opener.....the movie has covered every grass root problems which the country is suffering from......great story writing, directing, and of course acting by each and every cast.....the story ends on a high note and as the same manner as i expected....doesn't done very drastic change for his own village.....just done a simple thing which anyone can do....the main thing is this the movie is totally focused on domestic problems like illiteracy, corruption etc and no other scraps....its not a movie full of actions, sci-fi, and contrasts but it will still motivate you to do something for your own country.....the film keeps you engaging because you know about the facts and affairs of your country....and makes you excited for what would happen next....
SRK again (and how many time) done a fabulous job.....special credit goes to ashutosh gowairker....he makes every one aware about the current scenario of the country.....at least the movie suggest how we can tackle the problems....and if not then what will be our position among the world....on whole its an excellent movie and every Indian should watch this at least one time.....
Gayatri makes a good debut.Swades is carried on the shoulders of Shah Rukh Khan and he gives a performance that leaves you spellbound, speechless, just amazed!
Swades is such a good movie, as usual SRK does the best, and this movie was based in India and that is so awesome.
It is probably one of the most sincere and un cynical movies of recent times, and same holds true with Shah rukh, who delivers an endearing and perhaps his most subdued, underplayed yet a bravura performance.It starts with the NAsa engineer, who gets the longing to go back to India to meet his Nanny, and feels guilty that he had never got a chance to repay the love and warmth he received from her when he was a child.Come India, he comes to the ground realities of India, the village, even though the country has come of age is 'shining' not much has changed in the heartlands or the villages where you see illiteracy,strange dogmas, inequalities, chauvinism etc.Shah rukh sees it as a call to put his education and knowledge to use, and he knows his home needs him more than anywhere else.the movie is simple, straight and sincere, runs on the lines of a documentary.
Sure it is not glamorized but it delivers, excellent story telling skills.It is bound to touch your heart, and definitely relate able for the NRI's who think about going to India.The icing on the cake is not only the wonderful performances by the support cast, but the natural and non preachy characterizations of the entire cast.Shah rukh is likable, even with his usual and lovable antics, he is more serious, and clearly dominates the proceedings.Rahman's music is a big plus, with Yunhi Chala and Yeh Jo Des hai being the pick.
The best scene of the movie was when the little kid was trying to sell water for 25 paise, the emotion that Shah Rukh Khan portrayed at that point was excellent, that was fine piece of acting by a great actor.
But when I watched it in the cinema, I realised that one of the best things about it was that it had reality in it.Mohan Bhargav, a NASA engineer, returns to his homeland, India and goes in search for his governess, Kaveri Amma and finds her in a village where people do not have basic facilities, such as electricity on a regular.
Starring the ubiquitous Shah Rukh Khan in what is arguably his most nuanced performance to date, Swades tells the simple story of a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who embarks on a journey to India's heartland with the sole purpose of bringing back his effervescent nanny to the US.
The film does, in places, look like the director picked up too many issues at the same time, but the net sum is a movie that is very, very inspiring and thought provoking.
But this movie is an actual reflection of Indian feelings, of an Indian who have his love for his blood and his soil.Its an eyeopener to the NRI's ( Non Returning Indians)who have left their home for fame and money.I am so much inspired and i too plan to go back to my hometown where my actual soul and body likes to live.Its a story of relation with humans, their welfare and the love and affection for our hometown.Congratulations to ashutosh for bringing such an idea to the big screen and its shah rukh's credit that he have been selected to represent the whole Indian guys !!!!
The social jinx in the rural India which should have been broken long before are now hampering the progress of the villages.The movie is another Gem after Lagaan in the collection of Ashutosh and Indian Cinema as a whole..
The village setting is very realistic and the scene when SRK goes to collect rent from the tenant of Gayatri Joshi.In short an amazing and a realistic movie worth watching..
SRK or this film will probably not have the impact that Aamir and Lagaan did, but this movie was a good follow-up by the director.
He has no false airs and is totally down-to-earth.The movie is definitely a collector's item and I do hope Ashutosh makes more such thought provoking films for a long time to come.
I have never been so sad for a movie failing at BO as i am for Swades.But BO needs some mas-ala,fast pace and some dramatic moments, it may have lacked these things.But it have the "soul" which is not found in most of the movies.Swades is about self realization,about our roots,many cultural aspects: both positive and negative.But i loved Swades cause it was absolute realistic.Remember the scene in beginning when he says about Kaveri Amma that 'Mai Unko Bhul Gaya Tha'(I had forgotten her) this is among the finest moments.We realize that sometimes we forget people with whom we were once closely associated with, we get so much busy in our daily life that we tend to forget them.But sometime when we remember we like to speak to them, meet them, we miss them.It happens, we forget many of our childhood friends, few of our relatives,few of those with whom we were close.The scene when SRK goes to search Kaveri Amma and finds that she is not there and just when he is turning back the old lady says "she is very lucky that someone came to take her,that day she came..today you,else who ask for old people".Very true.Old people are very much ignored.SRK's entry in the village and the background music "Aayo re...Aayo re" one of the most beautiful music ever.The narrow old roads of village, people running after Srk van....surprised,stunned that who had entered our village in such a big van is damn realistic and gives "an essence of our rural India".SRK's entry in the house...wo aarti ki thaali lana and chandan and all gives an essence of our culture.In the night when SRK says sorry to Kaveri Amma: "I didn't took care of you" that lady who is like mother figure to him and he had not taken care of her in all these years and now he is realizing his fault.....absolutely touching.SRK's arguments with Gayatri Joshi at dinner about politics..."Sab Ek Dusre Ki Taraf Ungli Uthate Hai" (everyone keeps pointing fingers on one another).
I have so much respect for this song.And in the climax when John says "Mohan you could have gone places." And Mohan replies "I am going places" Well bringing electricity was just to show that every individual can do something for his country and society.....Mohan Bhargav comes....he was alone...then he united many people....and result was for their own benefit......for their literacy,electricity and all.What Mohan Bhargav gets??....nothing??.But its not....he gets something which is out of the world.....self realization...self respect....an honor.....not by others but in his own heart.....that he had done something good for his society and country.All bow to Ashutosh Gowarikar...from child marriage to illiteracy, from caste-ism to poverty, Swades covers all aspects and issues of rural India.
I would like to tell Swades is the best & only sensible movie of Indian cinema in the year 2004 after "Lakshya".
It's about what we the people are, what we do and what we should do instead of what we do.The execution you must go to the cinema and experience for yourself .Shahrukh Khan performs his career best in all respect .No overacting this time in any scene of the movie this time (No shaking while crying).
Shah Rukh Khan plays Mohan Bhargava; an Indian NASA scientist migrated to America as he finally manages to shed off his star persona, enacting a subtle but powerful performance, thanks to director's marvellous vision and excellent story-telling.
I think when Mohan tells villagers on dashera night that they have come to love the situations and that's why they don't want to do anything about it holds right for the Indian moviegoers and critics.Well better get at the movie, what can I say.
a must watch Movie...finest performance ever in Shahrukh Khan film career....
A feel good movie about the beauty of India's rural areas and diversity of its people.
But I'll tell you why I really love this movie—because it is nothing like anything Bollywood has ever produced before.I do not remember watching any other Shah Rukh Khan movie where he forgot that he was SRK and just became the character he was playing.
Swades has finally reached the next level of Indian movie-making with the help of ashutosh, srk and rahman where the execution, the concept and the treatment of the film is at least (i can safely assume) close to world standards.
Swades has finally reached the next level of Indian movie-making with the help of ashutosh, srk and rahman where the execution, the concept and the treatment of the film is at least (i can safely assume) close to world standards.