Swades, an absolutely fabulous tale of a lost man finding his Nirvana, depicted in a very real manner. Living out of India for 18 months now, has made me realize how much I relate to Mohan Bhargav; how I came out of my country to find my destiny and how I have come to realize now that I left it back home!
The direction more than matches the legacy Ashutosh Gowarikar left behind Lagaan and the performances by the actors are simply so real. I have finally come to respect Shah Rukh Khan as a versatile actor, the hints of which, were evident when he did some negative roles like the one in ’’Darr’’, but these were quickly overshadowed by his monotonous acting streak under the banners of Karan Johar and the likes. Gayatri Joshi could not have asked for a better movie to start her career. She is very beautiful, even with the simplest of make up and dressing. Other actors also do a good job.
The rural backdrop has been selected with perfection, showcasing a typical village with standard artifacts and cultural insignia like a temple on the banks of a pond, a post office with phone service, the infrequent availability of electricity and the adamancy of villagers towards tradition, among other things. Another rendezvous with realism is the way the songs have been assembled with the story; with little background music and meaningful lyrics the songs are a treat for the ears.
Although I have to admit that some parts of the film, the ones supposedly shot in America, are a bit too much for an average Joe in India.
All in all, Swades is by far one of the best movies I have ever seen and the proof of which is the fact that this is the first review I have ever written. In the end I can only wish to be like Mohan Bhargav and come back to India, my destiny!