A beautiful setup, a (non-Karan Johar) Shah Rukh, a theme that badly needs films, a picturesque filmscape (my own term for a breathtaking landscape on the screen)..and a lot more...makes Swades a film that is a must watch.
But only if one leaves behind the tag of ’Lagaan waala Ashutosh’ outside the hall.
Because, with due respects to the efforts put behind this endeavour, Swades sinks a bit with mediocrity, in terms of the effectiveness of the message it wishes to communicate. In other words, Swades doesn’t miss the point, but doesn’t hit the nail on the head either.
This, is also precisely the explanation behind the title I have choosen for this review.
Coming back to the film, the basic idea of an NRI realising his duties towards his country and re-discovering his roots, was given shape with a set up that was deliberately extreme in contrast. Meaning, apna Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh) was no average doctor or a software programmer raking up dollars in the silicon valley. He was beyond that - working with NASA - epitomizing the ultimate in science, technology and a rare, distinct torchbearer of american prowness.
So, when such a person comes down to the bylanes of rural india here an electric bulb is still a distant desire, the shocks are going to be too rapid and shaking. Yes indeed. But just a point, all this sounds valid if Mohan Bhargava was as alien to India, as a Greek tourist on his first ever visit. But what we see is a good, saccha ’bhartiya’ who has the indian map and sensibilities well etched in his mind.
And this is where the film falters. Because, what moves Mohan so deeply and so instantly appears to be something that came to him like a rude shock he was never aware of. Poverty and casteism as news to an Indian - Sorry boss, hajam nahi hua!
Meaning, if only the reason why he gives up his prestigious job with NASA and comes back was a more strong and convincing one, it would have supported the core thought correctly. At the same time, I also felt that by putting an angle of love between Mohan and the teacher (the very beautiful Gayatri Joshi), the main message of the film got trivialised - particularly because, Mohan Bhargav’s return to India seemed to be more driven by his lady love than the village upliftment.
Don’t know if Ashutosh got over confident due to last succees called Lagaan, or got a wet feet due to high expectations after Lagaan, Swades, at places, is undeservingly subjected to caricature treatment. Look at the village, the sarpanch, the panchayat etc - everything looks so bookish, so mock-up. The way the village heads talk are city bred men in some attired bought from dresswaala. A village in India has a strong distinct cultural, regional identity. They don’t belong to a cosmo place like we live in. That authentic village was missing, I feel.
Continuing the same issue I spoke of in the above para, our beautiful teacher ji looks like walking straight out of a parent-teacher meeting of a top-end convent school in a big city. I don’t mean to say village teachers can’t be good looking or desirable, but honestly, look at her hair, her matching saree-blouse, her lipstick -wasn’t she too well done up for a village without electricity and a school?!....
Yeh Tara, Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera...and Yuhin Chala Chal are beyond appreciation. terrific music, inspiring lyrics, great songs. Rest could have been easily avoided.
Acting again was good, weakened only by weak situations (as I mentioned above)
But again, of all the flaws, one point which I wud indeed say, deserves harsh criticism is the dual reasons that make Mohan Bhargav come back. Love interest as one of the reasons to come back, comes as a brutal, rusted knife inflicted into the soul of the film, leaving it with a septic wound. Oh my god, me getting weirdly philosophical out here or what...
Never mind, for the thought behind this film, may be we can say...’’Yeh jo Bollywood hai mera, sab chalta hai yahan..’’