During and in the last 5, 10-15 years especially post millennia 2000 like the great Gujarat earthquake, when I was going through challenging times, great turmoil, earthquake and upheaval in my life and life was posing as a great challenge and at the same time offering profound learning experiences, SWADES came as cool breeze of fresh air, a real/reel appetizer and tranquilizer.
For many years during the last 2 decades, I have hardly seen few movies and that too I have seen mostly good ones (Of course, mostly I see good, clean and descent ones only), the likes of Kal ho na ho, Munna bhai etc, but I am brazenly unreserved and unequivocal in saying that it was ultimate experience in making a lasting impact on my mind.
It may be possible that my mind was oriented and tuned towards the theme, spirit of the story and presentation. The cinematography and picturisation is unparalleled with good music and soothing-serene countryside. Some of the songs had profound, philosophical & deeper meanings like Yuhin chala chal rahi manzil ...and ye tara who tar har tara …
It is good to see that in the era of commercialization, the movies carry and cater to the needs and signs of the times. Most of the time, cinema caters to raw passions, gross cravings and routine masala - action, romance, socio-economic disparities, emotional drama, rags to riches, victory of Good over Evil etc. But this time it was different … the producer and director, I felt were scientists/professionals at the core of the heart and moved/churned by patriotic fervor, not that I am crazy and mad after patriotism, although I am a fan of Swami Vivekananda, I also believe in spirit of Universalism and Global village; Neverthless, it stirred the hornets nest - debate and dilemma of NRI scientist and Engineering professionals and the type of inner predicament, dilemma and pulls & pushes they undergo and the same was very genuinely and dramatically brought out which impressed me very much.
Often, I used to think there is a genuine reason for our IIT graduates and other bright minds to migrate to US and look for greener pastures there with my experience interwoven in between, considering the rut, we as nation are in with all the political, governmental, caste-creed confusion and socio-economic chaos, but the movie with the dialogues and conversation of the leading pair was successful in making me rethink and reconsider the state of affairs and plight in a new light with a genuine intention & feeling of improving the lot of downtrodden and underprivileged. After all God has given the talent & knowledge to the fortunate ones to help and uplift the unfortunates and downtrodden from the darkness of ignorance, misery and dependence! We need many more Vivekananada and Mahatma Gandhis!