Bollywood brings a standard structure to most of its movies. Romance with dancing, comedy and a problem. Swades has all of this, but it's problem tackles a question that many Indians outside of India, myself included, may think of: "Can I call India home?" Directed by Ashutosh Gowarike, Swades answers this question with all the colors and music that a Bollywood movie should have.
Swades follows Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan), a young up and coming NRI (Non-returning Indian) working for NASA as he returns to India to bring back his old nanny Kaveri Amma. Mohan has not returned to India for the past 12 years, thus the title of NRI.
Mohan's trip starts with him at a bookstore and shows him meeting with a girl who presumably recognizes who he is and gives him the wrong directions to Kaveri Amma's house. When he reaches the villiage (in his giant RV, which really entertains the villiage people) he finds that the girl, Geeta (Gayatri Joshi) is indeed an old friend from his time as a child with Kaveri Amma. From that time onwards, a sort of challenge ensues between Geeta and Mohan over Kaveri Amma. However, Mohan falls in love with Geeta and he attempts to win her over as the movie progresses.
Mohan finds himself beginning to like living in India and postpones his return to the States. He sees not only the good parts but also the bad parts of the society set up in the villiage. He actively works to increase the enrollment in Geeta's school, and also uses his skills as a rocket scientist to create a hydroelectric plant to power the entire villiage. The movie shows that no matter how long you stay away, you will always love and embrace your roots. In the end, I enjoyed this movie very much, and somehow did not even notice the length when I first saw it. For NRIs and open-minded non-Indians, this movie is highly recommended.
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