SWADES we the people
THE MOVIE THAT EVERY INDIAN SHOULD WATCH
Swades is a 2004 Indian Hindi film written, produced and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Shah Rukh Khan as an NRI who working as a Project Manager in NASA. Movie travels around his vacation to India to find his nanny (whom he knew as a kid) and take her to the US with him. On his journey, he met many interesting characters and fall in love with. The film, largely based in an Indian village set-up. Marvelous execution of music by A.R Rahman gave more color to movie, cinematography and performances is also a key factor. Swades is an experience! Ashutosh Gowariker has depicted patriotism from a different perspective.Actually,it is the story of an NRI couple Aravinda Pillalamarri and Ravi Kuchimanchi who return to India with a dream to improve the life of their people.
Awards of the movie
Social topics covered in movie
Education
In the film, Geeta (Gayatri Joshi) wants to run a school where the enrollment is dwindling due to dropouts and social exclusion of backward castes children. He fights to maintain school runs shows the importance of education
Casteism
The caste system in India is still a burgeoning issue. The lower caste villages suffer from social exclusion. They are treated pathetically, denied basic public services such as Education, Healthcare just because of their caste film portrays many such families like the untouchables who don’t feel included in the village's social life. Their miserable life makes everyone devastated
Women Empowerment
In the male-dominated Indian society, there is widespread gender inequality. The female of the family is usually refused basic education too. Some females, primarily from elite families who get to graduate are discouraged to work because of the groom’s family obligations.
Geeta is the classic example — She wants to live with dignity, freedom, and independence, but the boy-family doesn’t agree with her choices. She dumps the marriage proposal for her ideology.
Poverty and InequalityPoverty is always a major issue in Indian society. In Swades we see a poor farmer named Haridas and his family having a tragic life, the scenario of that family and their living portraited in the movie will make us tearful.
Modernity Vs TraditionThere is numerous reference to this particular issue. The most amazing one is the
monologue of Mohan (SRK) where he decisively explains why our country is not the world’s best country.
"Whenever we are under pressure in a competition…then we always say one thing…Culture, Tradition"
Any person following the news knows about the ghastly child labor prevalent in our nation, thanks to the Nobel-Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, who fought against all to ensure a safe and happy childhood for millions of children.
There’s a scene in the movie where Mohan is served a cup of tea by a child (somewhere near age 10) at a local Railway Station. It’s a heart-wrenching shot where neither viewers nor Mohan could hold up their tears.
Old-Age homesIndians are renowned for disowning their ugly, old, helpless parents and drive them to old-age homes. It has been a recurring feature in many Indian households and innumerable Bollywood films.
Mohan too, after reaching India, first visits an old-age home in New Delhi to look for Kaveri amma. But, as referenced early in the film, she is very fortunate to have 2 people coming to take her home.
Brain Drain
Finally, the major theme of the film: Educated, Successful Non-Resident Indian (NRI) returning to his motherland to serve the nation our ancestors fought for.
Thousands of Indians go abroad and settle there, thanks to our government and low standard of living. Here Mohan understands his mistake and returns to change his country. That's, why Swades is a tale of Homecoming, Journey back to roots,
Music of the Film
A. R Rahman the music magician always makes a different touch in his works. here every song and background score makes us feel the movie deeply. Credit should also be awarded to Javed Akhtar for marvelous lyrics. All songs are different and one could mention that they are flawless. By flawless I mean most of the songs by other musicians seem to have some part of extended music just to give a breathing time to the singer before the next paragraph could begin or maybe just to fill up the length of the sold music.
Although all songs are excellent, the following could be put up as my favorites.
Yun Hi Chala Chal
Well said..👏👏
ReplyDeleteGreat content 👍👍
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