People are having different views about Swades, but i would just like to add that Ashutosh cant be awarded for this movie:because this movie has a specific category of people loving this movie, so its not for masses....its for those selected people who are "non returnable Indians".its for making them realise that earning and living a lavishing life outside the country should never make u forget that India is your home country and you need to go for the better ment of your own country...its still the same country with a bad political scenario which they use to see when they were in india....Ashutosh has just made a right movie,at right time,for the right people...Hats off Ashutosh!!!!
It's surprisingly hard to believe the intellectual levels of these so called reporters who, given the opportunity to review movies by lord knows who, go on saying flat-out stupid things.
Swades is like a Fresh Breath in the long-stale Indian Movie Industry. I know for a fact that here in the US, Swades has been hailed as one of the best movies ever. Simple, Moving and Reminding us all of little things, is what Swades aims for and hits the target very clean. Amazingly, it's done better outside of India. Gayatri Joshi reminds us of what True Beauty is, just like Waheeda Rahman once did in Kaagaz ke Phool. Makes me wonder if sleaze is all Indian Movie-Goers are good for. I rate it 10/10
I totally agree that this is a forgettable film. Main kab se soch raha tha ki kahani mein ab twist aayega, ab twist aayega but the titles came and the twist never came. An Indian getting fascinated by rural India and rural girl and deciding to return - thats all ? Arre yaar iske liye picture banane ki kya jaroorat thi, especially with Shah Rukh Khan who I had to tolerate for 3 hours. This is the most ordinary and obvious movie someone could make given the theme "Homesick NRI". Agreed it will make the NRI's feel driven to tears and lament at their situation but I can see why it didn't strike a chord with the common Indian - because they don't experience that one feeling that will make someone watch this movie - a longing to live in India!! With Shah Rukh Khan at his usual teary eyed crooked faced best, it was even hard to believe that some educated, pretty girl is falling for him. Also, that hydel plant part was so unbelievable especially the scene full of tension resolved by the removal of a 'weed'!! Way to go Shah Rukh..And, Ashutosh Gowarikar, I thought you knew better..especially that you can't make money off NRI's because they ususally see their movies on pirated DVDs!!
The reviewer is horrible. Definitely this movie looks pale to Indians in India as nothing new about problems and they rarely see Bhargav's returning in reality. But Ashutosh is a great Human to bringforth such a hearttouching story. In fact his life is complete with this Movie. Lagaan might have succeeded at BO and so was HAHK, Sholey,Darr etc., But Swades is unique. It is a classic and free from Box Office Stamp. Every human thinks twice next time they hear anybody else's problems and Donate their knowledge,wealth and any other resource. Pl. watch this movie to keep your soul better one, to have a better meaning to the mortal lives. My life goal now is to meet Ashutosh at least once and congratulate him.
I'm not sure as to what you were watching when you saw that film. I think you've taken an overall view and have not been able to go into the deeper meaning of the movie as well as the intricate way in which it has been put together. A very subtle movie i think that totally had me reeling the entire way. Great cinematography as well as music. Maybe it's because im also an NRI and it really appeals to me, but by watching a film such as this you really get to realise how things really are in your own country, and what changes are or are not being provided for our own people. I dont know whether anyone else shares these views, but I think it was a great movie, "houston..." No problem!!
RE:swades review
by Vishnu on Apr 28, 2005 09:04 PM
>>> Akhand Bharat, my foot! What the hell are we doing with what we have?
I totally am in sync with what you say! Forget about the past and think and make the future..and for our own sake (the country's, I mean!) concentrate on improving the lot of our citizens...casteism, communalism...when are we going to learn?
And by the way, Swades is the movie to be reviewed and not Ashutosh Gowariker, as rightly said! A thoroughingly refreshing movie.
I wish reviewers would take a re-look at their roles. 1. You are supposed to review the movie, not the director 2. This is "Swades" and that was "Lagaan". The twain shall not be compared. It's like comparing siblings, not fair. 3. You look at a retrospective of his output, when he has made a substantial number of movies, not at the second *Having got that off my chest, "Swades" is one of the best movies I have seen for a long long time. *There is one central thread running through the movie and the plot line doesn't waver a tad. *Shahrukh has delivered one of his best performances to date. Gone are the stylised mannerisms, the posturing, the playing to the gallery. He is Mohan Bhargava and not SRK playing SRK. *There is no sermonising to my eye. We Indians need it hammered into our skulls that the future lies ahead and not in the unending litany of our past glory. A dozen more "Swades"s and we may make a dent. Akhand Bharat, my foot! What the hell are we doing with what we have? *Great movie. I hope that Ashutosh is not disheartened by all the negative stuff floating around. Thus is one film-maker who should be declared a national treasure
