The year was 2004. I was still studying in school, IX standard. A new SRK movie was in town. This was not a masala movie at all. Forget all the showbiz and sparkles we usually get in a SRK movie.
This time, I am about Swades, We, the people. (Homeland). Not the adrenaline action Homeland TV series of USA, but the emotional Indian movie. For the love of picturesque visual, just see the photo. It has a deeper meaning than the top layer. This movie has some of the most authentic and stunning visuals.
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| Image: Glamsham |
The standard way of showing the movie name is, first in big letters comes the English alphabet usage of film name, then comes the Hindi (Devnagri script) and finally in Urdu. Perhaps, this movie is the only one where you get to not only these three scripts of naming Swades, but Swades is shown to be written is many regional scripts at one screen.
I mean, it was a creative way of Director Ashutosh Gowariker to showcase that India exists in plurality. We are a one united nation adorning numerous languages and dialects. How many counties can boast of this uniqueness in having thousands of languages. Yet we are one strong nation.
The movie is a cult film, but was way ahead of its time. Hence, it was not able to catch the masses and was a box office disaster. But as history repeats, many cult movies were box office disasters. Over time, it has become one of the most respected movie in History of Bollywood. Had it been made today, perhaps it would have become a blockbuster as now the Indian audience is more into accepting such legendary films.
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| Image: Santa Banta |
The movie depicts many hard core realities. A decade later, we are much improved and more to go in future. The movie will remind the next-gen,What we as a country was in many spheres. As SRK has himself told and thanked the Director, Swades is one of his best films, he has worked on, ever.
I am told by many that I am unable to cry in real world situations, lacking the basic reaction to a shock. Even I am still confused why, but somehow tears roll down my eyes whenever I see a captivating movie. This movie is one of them, where tears automatically roll out and I have to blow my nose.
Mohan, the protagonist works at NASA. He remembers his maid, Kaveri Amma, who raised him, but has now lost contact with her. His guilt over not caring for her, makes him want to bring her to the US for a better life. He sets out to India to find her. Least does he know, that he will be the one, who will choose to stay in India.
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| Image: Glamsham |
He tracks her to a village, Charanpur. We have a scene where Kaveri Amma is giving a malish (oil massage) to a new baby. It shows that we have an old tradition of keeping new-borns healthy. And then she is dragged by a boy, Chiku to the front of their home. She sees a big Caravan Bus, with village kids excited, climbing the vehicle.
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| Image: Glamsham |
Slowly her eyes are covered by a pair of hands. The voice asks her to name him, but she cannot. He gives her a clue. Atkan Batkan, Dahi Chatokan, tu Yashoda main hoo....and she completes the sentence with Mohan. The line depicts tiny Lord Krishna's (also know as Mohan), who steals curd and his adoptive mother Yashoda is after him. Such an iconic moment. What an mesmerising scene, where present situation is shown parallel with a story of our Gods. Every Indian can understand the depth of the meaning of this line.
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| Image: Glamsham |
Kaveri Amma is so happy that she cries hugging him. Urging him to wait out at the door, she brings a puja thali (Hindu worshipping plate consisting of diyas and flowers) to welcome him inside the home. After doing Aarti, he enters and touches her feet, as a manner, we all Indians do to get blessings of elders. She hesitates pulling her feet away, Mohan inches forward touching touches her feet again, showing his immense respect for her. She is overwhelmed and exclaims how much she missed him.
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| Image: Glamsham |
Mohan explanis him that Internet is a vast network of connecting around the globe and by email one can send letters to anyone anywhere. Nivaraan ji gets happy and announces that from now on, he will send all enveloped letters through email !! So fast way of sending them.
Mohan does his NASA work in the post office using his thick Apple Macbook (one day I am owning a Macbook for sure !) and landline phone at one side for making ISD calls with Nivaraan Ji dozing off the other side of the table.
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| Image: Glamsham |
A movie needs a romance. and we have a lovely one here, simple yet enchanting. Before Mohan reached Charanpur, a chance encounter at a book shop revealed him to Geeta. She came to know him when he asked her its location in the map. She tries to mislead him to a different location to prevent him coming to the village. She also, like Mohan, was raised by Kaveri Amma and took her to the village.
But destiny brings him to Geeta in spite of her trials and, love happens. Both were childhood friends and he used to call her Gitli. Geeta teaches at the village school trying to get more students. Chiku, her brother takes him to her, and it's here where he gets to know the real her. Though differences in viewpoints in matters of the world, Mohan begins to be drawn more towards her.
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| Image; Glamsham |
She on the other hand, finally decides to not marry and dedicate her life to reaching all sections of the village people, to urge them to educate their kids. Many village leaders oppose her as they find it difficult to let their kids study with lesser caste people. But finally with Mohan's help, they overcome and opens the school's door to all. They get closer.
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| Image: Glamsham |
There are two scene which made my eyes sore and full with tears. First one is the Boat scene. Mohan and Melaram goes to nearby village to collect debt from Haridas who owes Kaveri Amma. When they reach their thatched hut, Mohan is struck, he never had imagined or even saw what poverty is, until now. There is only a single piece of clothing worn by each member of Haridas's poor family. Food is scarce, yet they offer Roti (Indian Bread) to Mohan and Melaram, because we believe in Athithi Devo Bhava (Guest ls equivalent to God).
Mohan realises that in no way can Haridas return the debt, instead while parting, he gives him money form his wallet. On their return on a boat, the visual is like this, Mohan is seated among many walks of village life, for whom the boat is their lifeline to travel. The moment is only visually describable. Do watch it. You will freeze.
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| Image: Santa Banta |
Second scene is the Train scene. Their train halts at a station. A Small boy is shown running towards the train with one hand holding a kettle and other a bucket full of earthen cups. And he shouts loud, pani le lo pani. Pachish paise ka ek gilaas. Pani le lo pani. Have water, only Quarter a Rupee per glass, Please have water.
He asks Mohan, Shahab pani le lo. (Sir, please have a cup of water). Mohan, form his train window takes the water cup and gives him a coin. His eyes is fixated on the boy in dirt filled clothes. As the Train starts moving, through window, the boys is shown counting the meagre coins of his earning.
I literally cry each time I watch this scene. At times, I complain of having not enough in life, all the materialistic desires to have a nice life.. And at such moments, I watch this scene to calm and make myself realise, "Hey you, You are really lucky to have a decent life at-the-least, look at the poor boy. Feel his plight." This poor boy has nothing and is struggling for continuing his survival.
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| Image: Glamsham |
We have the Dusheraa festival, where the whole village irrespective of religion, gathers to celebrate it. There is singing and dancing, Natak (Drama) and the the Ravan Dahan moment, where Sri Ram finally puts Ravan to an end.
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| Image: Glamsham |
Mohan attends the festival among the village people. The scene depicts how much we love our festivals in spite of whatever our financial or social situation is.
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| Image: Santa Banta |
We have another scene where people gather at the school to welcome new students. Later after the ceremony, the Village leaders urges to have a discussion with Mohan about his experiences in USA and his take on India compared to USA. Soon debate arises between them. They claiming that India is the greatest country in the World, while Mohan disagreeing to it. He explains that, "Main nahi maanta humara desh Duniya ka sabse mahan Desh hai. Par humme kabiliyat he, desh ko mahan banane ki". (I don't think our country is greatest, but we have the capacity to make it greatest.)
He speaks a fact which make them cringe. He explains that we must work together instead of blaming each other. We can be great by helping each other and growing together. America has become Great by its own sheer will. India can also do it. And yes, at present times, we have been gaining momentum. We are making things great.
Finally, Mohan ventures to solve the Electricity problem of the Village. He spends his own money to build a generator to generate electricity with help of local people. Motivating them all and finally proving that if we want, we can make things happen instead of just complaining all the time. The bulb glows in a hut and illuminates the face of an elderly woman, who exclaims Bijli (Electricity). WOW, so dramatic visual, if you see it and feel it.
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| Image: Glamsham |
As time draws closer Mohan returns to USA, much to the hesitance of Geeta. She gives him a parting gift to make him remind of his motherland. Kaveri Amma choose not to go to the US. He reluctantly agrees and restarts his NASA life.
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| Image: Santa Banta |
But he is haunted by the pictures of his time in India. the people he met, the situations he faced, the way he helped the village. All these pull him to his nation. He decides to leave USA and work in India at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, live wiith Geeta and Kaveri Amma. Country brings her son back finally.
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| Image: Santa Banta |
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