The film is understated,walks the tightrope of arty and commercial very well,has a message and some wonderful music to drive it through.As an individual who has worked in America for a couple of years the understanding of the film is very vivid. As an Indian who spent the better part of his life (22 Years) in India the idea is novel and inspiring. The film may flop but thats a truism one comes to expect. What survives is the belief in the Power of One and the notion of India as a wonderful country to be born in. Ashutosh....Encore!!
I have to agree with the commentator..Swades was an epochal film that gets you to think...and think....and think...I really don't know for how long it is going to be etched in my mind..I guess fairly long.
i went to the movie thinking that they would surely eat my brain by showing Sharukh in a flamboyant style with NASA in the background. But to my surprise its a very well made movie..this movie might be more appealing to guys who are in U.S now. Ashutosh's direction and dialogues are very good and the way he presented the tender love between Mohan and Gita is excellent.
It might actually inspire lot of NRI's to do something for their motherland.Great storyline.Its a rarity in indian cinema to find films with some message.
Somehow, rediff never publishes my comments, which is verry strange :).
But apart from dat, I totally agree with u, Mr. Omar..infact, I am one of ur so-called Veer Zaara and Mein hoon na bred-guys, still Swades appealed to me. Apart from the cinematic qualities u mentioned, it has amazing background score and songs :). Infact "Dekho na", a song whr none of the characters says anything, and still the magic is sooo obvious, talking via eyes, amazing ! simply amazing !.
do not worry mr. ahmed. i am a student of IIM kozhikode. of the 50 or so classmates who watched it, a majority said tht this movie was a great one and has forced them to think about our great country. there were some detractors but they r in a minority. i believe tht this movie is not made for entertaining but to provoke us to think abt our country. i believe this movie shud be shown to every indian here or outside as it gives out a great message. a message tht needs to be spread all over if we r to become the greatest coutry in the world.
I think it's time you have more critics like Omar on your payroll who reviews movies the way it ought to be done.
That's just my opinion and I believe most reviewers just share their opinion, no matter how objective they try to be. But it's more interesting to read an opinion that's well informed and as a product of socio-political awareness and a keen interest in good cinema - which certainly appears the case here.
Nice work Omar, hoping to see a lot more from you in this space :o)
SWades is a beautiful film that deserves more than what it is being subjected to right now. When half your population is heavily indulging itself in films like murder and the other half is illiterate, you really cant expect a masterpiece like swades to do well. It takes an educated audience to appreciate good cinema like this. All that we can hope for is that it does well at the box office. I for one, am waiting for the dvd to come out.
