Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Swades is a unique cinematic experience, high on quality and substance. Rarely, do we come across such an earnest endeavor in the Indian celluloid where the story is used as a medium to convey the central theme of nationalism. Never in this 3hours 40 minutes movie does Gowarikar stray from the main plot and there are no distractions in the form of melodrama or high pitch patriotism.
SRK plays Mohan Bhargav, an NRI and a NASA scientist coming to the rural village of Charanpur to meet his foster-mother. Here he discovers the plight of the rural community in the village, struggling for a living, deprived of bare necessities and decides to make a difference to their lives. If Lagaan was a case study on Bhuvan’s leadership and team building skills to fight the colonial rule, Swades has the enterprising Mohan Bhargav teaming up with the villagers in bringing electricity to the rural community.
The arguments and debates in the movie put forward the socio-economic and political conditions in India. Mohan Bhargav reflects on how we overplay our ‘traditions’ and ‘culture’ as a cover-up for the poverty and ignorance faced by our country, where the majority of the population still struggles hard for a living in the villages. Though the movie tends to be preachy at times there are many moments in the movie that’ll make one feel strongly for a united effort in resolving issues by making a difference at the grass root level itself.
Gowarikar seems to have intentionally underplayed certain aspects of the movie. The narration is simple and the cinematography doesn’t exactly catch your imagination. The fabulous background score and music by AR Rehman only adds to the feel of the film. Shahrukh Khan is a revelation as Mohan Bhargav, he underplays his role to perfection and has a screen presence that cannot be substituted by any other, the actor makes his presence felt in each and every frame of the movie. Mohan Bhargav’s love interest-Gita, played by a very likable Gayatri Joshi is sure to go places with Swades.
Finally, a word of caution, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s 30 crore movie is low on entertainment but high on substance and is meant for serious viewing only.