Swades

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan Rating: 4/5 Rewatchability Index: 3/5 Seen at: Sridhar, Cochin

A young man returns to his homeland and realizes that his talents are required more here than at NASA. He rejuvenates an entire village with his attitude and outlook. When faced with the choice of a life back at NASA as opposed to a life in the dirt and grime in the village, he chooses the latter.

But the story of Swades isn’t that simple. Ashutosh Gowrikar has, through his latest work, reached out to the Indian Middle Class. The ones who look westward for fame and fortune. Once again, he uses the village as a backdrop for his message.

A.R. Rehman’s music is simply brilliant. According to me he has come up with one of his finest works to-date.

Swades however lacks in the camera department. The richness of the Indian village remains uncaptured. But here I am ready to give Gowriker the benefit of the doubt. It might just be that he did not want to capture the beauty of the Indian village, but its squalor and the feeling of helplessness.

Viewers are spared by the tirades which such movies invariably carry an overdose of. Swades takes you on a journey with a young man and lets you discover your feelings for yourself.