Swades is a movie that explores a difficult subject with sensitivity, objectivity and directness. After the immense success of ‘Lagaan’ in 2001, Ashotush Gowariker followed up this historical epic with this earthy and insightful tale of present day India. However, unlike most of it’s contemporary releases in the past few years, this movie does not focus on urban India. Instead, it doggedly deals with tough questions and issue facing rural India and all Indians- both urban and rural. At the time of it’s release, it was faced with unavoidable high expectations and comparisons with Lagaan. In picking a theme so resonant with our times, it perhaps spoke strongly to the NRI community received popularity overseas, but it did not do well at the box office in India despite critical acclaim.
The plot of the movie is quite simple. The story is about Mohan Bhargava, who is a Project Manager with NASA. Surrounded by all the comforts and trappings of a successful life abroad, Mohan finds himself longing for his childhood caretaker, Kaveriamma. He hasn’t seen Kaveriamma for more than a decade while he has been busily charting out a career in science. Yet, even though now that he is at an important milestone in his career, he begins to feel her emptiness in his life. Consequently, he decides to travel to India and bring her back to the U.S with him. And thus, starts a journey of discovery and self exploration.
The good thing about this film is that it does not hesitate to ask very tough questions, and nor does it shrink from making certain harsh yet balanced statements regarding India today. Where it could so easily have lost itself in jingoistic patriotism or utterly damning critisicm of India or the West, the movie instead chooses to take a balanced approach. It engages with very relevant topics such as casteism, untouchability, gender discrimination, illitracy and government ineptitude among others. Despite dealing with such heavy issues, it manages to avoid sounding preachy or moralizing.
Some poignant moments from the film remain etched ni memory long after it ends. The helplessness of the poor farmer Haridas in the face of abject poverty is extremely moving and forces the viewer to reflect on the situation of the multitudes of Haridas’ in our country. It is not easy to forget the face of the old tribal woman when electricity lights up the bulb in her home, banishing years of darkness. We rejoice with the villagers when they succeed in producing electricity for the village. Perhaps because the electricity is symbolic of the positive change that has broken the age old darkness, and will shine a better future ahead.
Shahrukh plays Mohan with restraint and refinement, truly one of his best works. Gayatri Joshi makes a credible first attempt, though she can be rather overtly school marmish at times. The actress who plays Kaveriamma is endearing and little Chiku is a happy addition. However, the real heroes of this movies are the surrounding character actors like the village postmaster, eager to learn about emails and the internet, the old freedom fighter who now teaches at the school, Melaram – who is eager to open a dhaba in the US and Haridas. This is so because it is these characters who belong to a sphere outside of this film, they live in India’s villages and walk on the same streets as us even though we may forget that in our life of urban comfort and pleasures.
It is truly in this aspect that the film makes a mark as a true masterpiece of Indian Cinema.