Set in modern day India, Swades is a film that tackles the issues that development throws up on a grass root level. It is to this India, which is colorful, heterogeneous and complex that Mohan Bhargava Shah Rukh Khan, a bright young scientist working as a project manager in NASA, returns to on a quest to find his childhood nanny. The film uses the contrast between the highly developed world of NASA, which has been at the forefront of advances in space research, and this world back home in India, which is at the crossroads of development. Mohan's simple quest becomes the journey that every one of us goes through in search of that metaphysical and elusive place called "home".
Set in modern day India, SWADES tackles the issue facing the citizens of this nation at grassroots level. The India of SWADES is colorful, heterogeneous and complex and it is to this environment that Mohan Bhargava [Shah Rukh Khan], a bright young scientist working as project manager in NASA, returns to, on a quest to find his childhood nanny.What begins as a simple mission prompted by nostalgia and affection turns into a journey to the heartland of rural India, both literally and metaphorically. Mohan finds his nanny, Kaveriamma [Kishori Ballal], the symbol of motherhood, in a village called Charanpur with an admirable young woman Gita [Gayatri Joshi] and her younger brother Chikku [Master Smit Sheth]. Mohan begins to interact with the Panchayat, which has at the helm the dogmatic but the just village chief. Along the way he encounters the quirky but endearing Mela Ram [Dayashanker Pandey], who sees Mohan as his ticket to the chain of restaurants he will start on the American freeways. Mohan befriends the local postmaster Nivaran [Rajesh Vivek], stuck to his old-fashioned ways, and the village children, whose future is inextricably linked with that of the country. Soon, Mohan finally realizes that it is his scientific temperament as well as his understanding of societal complexities that can drive the villagers to participate in a movement to better their lives.
Of East Indian origin, Mohan Bhargav is one of the millions of Non-residential Indians settled in the United States of America. Mohan is employed with N.A.S.A., and has been assigned to the task of measuring precipitation, which he accepts. He gets a little homesick, and reminisces about his life in India, his late parents, and his nanny, Kaveriamma. He impulsively decides to travel to India, and see how his nanny is doing. He finds out that his nanny has re-located, and after several inquiries he finds out that she lives in Charanpur - a place famous for the actual markings of the footsteps of Lord Ram and Devi Maa Sita when they were on their 14-year exile from Ayodhya. Mohan does locate Kaveriamma, who is overjoyed to see him. She introduces him to a young woman by the name of Gita, and Mohan gets attracted to her. This attraction gets him involved in the many problems facing Charanpur, and he decides to lend a hand to ease them. But will a young educated man like Mohan be accepted by the villagers, and will be considered competent enough to adjust to their way of life?
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Back to the roots
Steering away from the usual jingoism often depicted in Bollywood patriotic films, Ashutosh Gowarikar's Swades invokes the feeling of love for one's country by telling the story of an India-born NASA scientist who returns to his country to find his roots.
The movie takes a viewer through the heartland of rural India, revealing its beauty and the diversity of its people. A part of the movie was also shot inside the NASA research center at the Launch Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The film stars Shah Rukh Khan, newcomer Gayatri Joshi, Kishori Ballal, Makrand Deshpande and a good number of other actors. Music for the film is given by A R Rahman.
Story
Mohan Bhargava (Shahrukh) is a bright, young, India-born scientist working in NASA as the project manager on a rainfall monitoring satellite known as the Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM. (It is in reality a NASA mission expected to be launched in 2007).
Working in the world's most hi-tech and sophisticated place, Mohan often relishes seeing India on globe.
Filled with nostalgic memories of his nanny Kaveriamma, Mohan makes a journey to India to trace the woman he associates with motherly love.
For Mohan, what begins as a nostalgic trip soon turns into a journey filled with revelations as he travels into the heartland of rural India, meeting people and seeing in reality the country he had only imagined in his dreams.
Mohan finds his nanny, Kaveriamma (Kishori Ballal) in a village called Charanpur. The old woman is in care of an adorable young girl named Gita (Gayatri Joshi) who works as a schoolteacher. Also part of the family is Gita's younger brother Chikku (Master Smit Sheth).
As Mohan spends time in village he comes across many people and age-old customs that reveal to him a new side of India. He discovers that although people are poor and ignorant, but still they carry immense riches in their hearts.
Mohan vows to do everything he can to bring awareness among people and inspire them to uplift themselves.
Movie Review : THE HOMECOMING (6/10) Despite the noble intention that underscores the theme of Swades, and despite the presence of a superstar who, for the firs...
Music Review : The Swades Review (8/10) A R Rahman's skill and talent as a music composer comes to fore in Ashutosh Gowarikar's Swades. The beautifully composed me...
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