Friday, June 1, 2012

We, The Fanatics | Part – 2 | The I In Cinema | Under Lens

Like every other film, there’s a love story at its core too. Gayatri Joshi plays Geeta – a teacher at Charanpur who doesn’t want Mohan to take Kaveri Amma away with him. Slowly, she starts understanding Mohan and falls for him. It is a love story that Gowariker treats lovingly and creates enough tender moments that are not only clap worthy but witty enough for you to crack a smile. It remains a mystery why Joshi did not sign any more films after this. May have been voluntarily but I will say this – had she been working today, she would have been one of the most fantastic leading ladies in movies.

Mahesh Aney – the cinematographer shoots Swades in a manner which is reminiscent of the great cinematographer Roger Deakins. His camera is not in a state of urgency. It stares; it looks through and looks beautifully allowing us to marvel at the nobility of this movie. Rarely has it been the case in which the inherent nobility of the script is equally complemented by the external beauty. Aney’s work is that of a born genius, a master. A. R. Rahman’s music is the stuff of dreams – Yeh Taara, Yun hi chala chal, Yeh jo des hai tera, pal pal hai bhaari – every single song is the work of such outstanding caliber that it becomes a tad too hard to pick your best of the lot. The story and screenplay by Ashutosh Gowariker and M. G. Sathya are exemplary enough to merit a mass paperback publication. I can say no more in its praise than what has already been said and written.

Shah Rukh Khan does not just play Bhargava, he literally embodies the character and becomes Mohan Bhargava. This is a powerhouse performance from an actor whose talent has been channeled in those typical lover boy roles. Shah Rukh Khan was born to play Mohan Bhargava and it can be rightfully said that this is THE performance of the decade gone by. Of the ensemble cast, each and every actor manages to leave an indelible impression on you. Be it Kishori Balal or Rajesh Vivek or Farrukh Jaffar, or Daya Shankar Pandey or Rahul Vohra – every one of them stands out in terms of characterization and solid acting. 

Swades is the kind of film that we should be proud of, not because it brings out the patriot in us but because it has something to say to everyone. It is a film which has the power to change. At least, I can say that this film has moved me like none other and made me a better person than I already was. I know I have been extremely positive about this film and haven’t been able to find any flaws whatsoever. But, I’d be really surprised if you prove me wrong and list out a single problem with Swades. There’s the classic saying – “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” This film reinstates our faith in this very saying. Every time I see this movie begin, every time I see the opening credits sequence in various languages, I can feel the gooseflesh kicking in and I can feel the pride of having been in the same era when Swades was made and released.

Written By: Gyandeep Pattnayak

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