A cut above the rest . Review on Swades

?There are entertaining films, there are artistic films, and there are some films that are simply necessary?. - Jack Lemmon

Swades is best described by the above lines. I live in Birmingham, Alabama. This small city in Southern USA had just one screening of the movie. In all, there were three of us who went together for this ''special screening''. We managed to grab some tickets at the 11th hour. The result-we were closely inspecting and comparing SRK's inadequate shave with the other actors of the movie from the second row of the theatre. In any case, second row or second last row, this movie hits a home-run(I'm in USA, so no sixer anymore) when it comes to plot, casting, performances, and social message.

I found the reactions of many people at the theatre to be irritating, to say the least. The ''masses'', if I may say so, seem to have taken the plot too literally. ''They'' were joking about going back to a village back in India and lighting a bulb. I guess very few people will understand the subtleties that the movie attempts to explain. But for the uninitiated, Swades is inspired from a real life incident. Two engineers from Kerala went to a village in Narmada Valley and setup a microhydel power generator, as done by SRK in the movie. They lighted a few bulbs in a village to which the Indian government could not provide electricity for 50 years. All this was done with personal funds. After their achievement was highlighted by the media, They were nominated and later won the MIT Technovator's award. But that's not the point I'm trying to make.

The movie does not want everyone to quit everything they are doing and go settle in a village. What is shown in the movie is creative exaggeration to drive home the point. But there is a hidden message. There are many unresolved issues in India which is halting India's progress. Indians settled abroad are in a position to help India in a way that no one can. You dont have do as it is done in the movie, but you can do something. Grass root implementation is the problem. Awareness is the problem. Caste is the problem. Distribution is the problem.

There are so many brilliant Indians abroad. Even ideas to overcome the above mentioned problems will be great help to the nation. But the greatest deed would be to come back and be a part of the progress of the country. People keep cribbing about the poverty and underdevelopment of the country. Well do something about it or shut your trap. The new rule is-if you are not doing to help India progress then you have lost your cribbing rights. This includes me too. I wont be cribbing until I'm in a position to help India.

There is a scene in the movie where SRK is conversing with the panchayat about the cultural differences between India and America. The villagers tout that India is a 'Mahan' country because of its rich tradition and culture. SRK in the most compelling line of the movie, I think, retorts by saying that India is not a 'Mahan' country, but has the potential to become one. The villagers also ridicule USA for its lack of tradition or culture. SRK also snubs that point by saying that the people of USA have their own distinct culture and tradition and the people have worked hard to make USA a developed country. I think this is a very important point. Instead of ridiculing the Americans and being falsely satisfied about our greatness we should absorb their positives.

The images are amazing, SRK at his subtle best, Gayatri Joshi has potential, Great supporting cast, what else can I say... The love story between SRK and GJ is effortlessly blended with the main theme of the Movie. I read reviews about the movie being too long. Yea right!!! I didnt realize where the time went. Rehman is at his best. The music gave me goose-bumps. The picturization is perfect. This is undoubtedly ''Movie of the year''. Gowarikar has elevated his status as a writer and director to new heights, much above the average Indian director.

We Indians have become too spoilt by the free hand given to us by democracy. Every Indian should be forced to see this movie because it is necessary. It takes bs to make a film like this, and I am happy that it has been done. I know this film might fail at the box-office(I am really irritated because films like Veer Zaara are doing well). But I am happy the people who will end up liking the film are the people who will matter and who will end-up making a difference in India

Go watch it!!!!