Swades is the story of an NRI (Non Resident Indian or Non-Returning Indian) is a Project Manager at NASA, who returns to India in search of his nanny as he feels the pangs guilt for not caring enough for his nanny. When he reaches the village where she is staying and sees and lives the life of a n Indian in a typically impoverished village (in terms of Caste differences, Poverty, Illiteracy, lack of basic amenities etc.), he undergoes a change and resolves to help the village in atleast trying to be self sufficient by harnessing hydel power to generate electricity. This in gives birth to the idea of being self reliant to the villagers and how it changes him individually to return back to his country and work for his motherland is the basic premise of the movie.
Having seen the movie, I would place this movie as good as Lagaan (Dir-Ashutosh Gowarikar’s earlier movie, nominated for Oscar’s in the Best Foreign Film category) if not better. This movie brings out the pathos and the reality of the villages but not in a preachy or documentary way. Neither does it have a super hero who transforms the whole village overnight. It’s about each individual trying to bring in the change that he wants and not pass the buck to another and waits for someone else to bring about the change.
The movie has good acting, mentionable are those of Shah Rukh Khan, who for once is the actor and not the hero of the film, Kishori Ballal who plays the nanny, Gayathri Joshi who plays the modern Indian woman sans skirts and in Sarees (and may I say looks beautiful and acts very well) and the Postmaster and Cook-cum-guide of Shah Rukh Khan.
Music is very good by (my fave) A R Rahman. But note worthy here is the amazing work on the Background score and it fits so well for the movie, it not only instrumental version of the songs but also specific score.
Also to note is the clean and uncluttered Art design, simple and beautiful dress designs and good camera work.
Scenes I liked the Most:
When Shahrukh visits the farmer and his trip back to the village (almost similar to Mahatma Gandhi’s journey through India which in helps him understand the country and transforms him)
When Shah Rukh explains the village post master about Email.