*http://paruvella.com/2008/07/29/swades-we-the-people/* ** *Swades, *is one of those movies every NRI loves to relate himself to but a very few truly get inspired by it. Beside his love for the country, Mohan Bhargav had Kaveri Amma and the ever charming Geetha to pull him back after his project assignment with *Nasha*. Cut to the real world, most of us despite having our own kaveri amma (spelt family) and that certain element of patriotism, we still tend to get hounded by unexplainable circumstances , uncomprehensible consequences and never retreat to swades and if we do its more for a reason which sounds like "enough is enough i need to go back for my family" and nothing else, which I think is perfectly alright. It takes love for the masses and the urge to do great things for the country more than the sense of personal (spelt family again) well-being that will drive people to their *charanpurs *by giving a boot to the much loved lifestyle in *vides*, I have to quote Melaram who says "*apni chaukat ka diya giving light to neighbours houze *".
Back to the movie, Ashutosh is for swades what sun is to solar system, he draws first-rate performance from Shahrukh khan, we all know he can act and ham if not controlled, but in this role as Mohan Bhargav, he is mesmerizing, Kaveri Amma played by kishori ballal breaks the stereotype of mommy'ish roles in Hindi cinema, Gayatri Joshi follows suit in similar fashion. I relate to the loneliness that SRK feels in the US, I love those numerous occasions when ashutosh uses symbolism and analogies to convey deeper meanings and earthy feelings like SRK's feet on the plush floor mat and then in the temple's holy water, the box of spices, his *Jaguar *in US and triples ride on the scooter back in India, Flying to India in Executive class, the trip to meet *Haridas- *on noisy trains, serene sail boats and dingy buses*. *I loved *charanpur *and its characters in Eastman color, the verandah inside the *chanranpur *home, I love the gullible Gaythri Joshi and her head strong principles (or whatever) , conversations and arguments with the village panchayat, I simply adore SRK's *Mohan Bhargav* for a certain * phoren* swagger and sophitication that he displays early on, the naivity and the self-exploration later in the movie, I love the music by AR Rahman, and our song *Yeh jo des hai tera*, which never ceases to move me. Wishing one day that I reach a stage where a diya from my chaukat gives light to a whole neighborhood, I approve of Swades as one of the best coming-of-age and awakening movies in history of Indian Cinema. Just for the fact, *Chiranjeevi *on similar lines acted and produced a *K.Balachander *directed "*Rudraveena*", which ofcourse is a milestone in Telugu cinematic history. Later! -- regards, Vithur ARR -- The Sweet Cube always
