MovieChat Forums > Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005) Discussion > Swades Vs. The Rising

Swades Vs. The Rising

posted 19 years ago by viveck_thakur
70 replies | jump to latest

Two of the celebrated director and actor returned to the screen after 3 and 3.5 years respectively. In both the movies the subject is Patriotism but with a difference. For both the movies theme is India. Both the movies talk about castism, state of women, our internal, differences and under dogs rising to the challange and taking things in there own hand. Which one you think is the better movie. For me it has to be Swades because this movie has a soul of its own which is where The Rising fall short of. What do you think?

[–] ssvikas 19 years ago

It's Swades anyday. Although Preachy, it had a better script, well defined roles for SRK and Gayatri Joshi. Ashutosh Gowariker is a better director than Ketan Mehta who's created a mess called Mangal Pandey after 3 years of research. Mangal Pandey can classify better as a Fiction Movie. This was not the right movie for an excellent actor like Aamir Khan who'se talent has been wasted in the Movie. Mangal Pandey has survived due to the acting prowess of Toby Stephens better known as the Villain in the last 007 flick

[–] viveck_thakur 19 years ago

Hey Guys, in this forum we are talking about movie and not actors. Although actors makes a good part of movie but it's not all. There are script writer, dialogue writer, director, cinematographer, music director and many more who come together to make the movie. A director can make a better movie even with lesser actors. So lets talk take a wholesome approach and talk about movie, not just about actors. Otherwise it is insult to all other people who have sweated in the process of movie making. We can discuss actors (stars) on some other platform more objectively.

[–] kapilg_79 18 years ago

I loved Swades and was expecting a lot out of 'The Rising' too but for me it all kind of fell flat on it's face. So Swades it is. However, I do have the feeling that we are comparing apples to oranges.

[–] thinking_about_username 18 years ago

prefer swades

[–] pri678 18 years ago

The Rising anyday

[–] www-aaamirkhan 18 years ago

The Rising

[–] goodbyeleningoodbyestali 18 years ago

I love Swades. But The Rising was good; just for Aamir khan.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] yasminakhtar4 18 years ago

Definitely SWADES!

I put off watching Swades thinking it would be boring but recently watched it and loved it!

[–] banoboman 18 years ago

I would choose "The Rising" if only for the incredible acting of Aamir. He takes risks with his choice of roles and I respect that. More than “Swades” vs “The Rising”, I want to know who decided to offer “Paheli” to the Oscars for consideration when they could have nominated “Swades”

[–] shades_of_grey 17 years ago

it's a no brainer...'The Rising' all the way. whilst Swades conveyed its patriotic message more passively...mangal pandey was more powerful in its portrayal...and thats what moved me...

[–] maxqnzs42 17 years ago

Swades had a great soundtrack and very good message. What it lacked was any subtlety or finesse in getting that message across. Instead it resorted to sermonising, with Mohan often literally preaching at the victims, sorry, villagers. I love Lagaan, and was very disappointed at the self-righteous boring snorefest that Gowariker turned out in Swades. He should go back to films like Awaara, Shree 420 and Pyaasa to be reminded of the fact that it IS possible to make a socially meaningful film that is also great entertainment. The ONLY thing that saved Swades from being as boring as Veer-Zaara for me was its outstanding soundtrack.

MP, otoh, was lively. It may have been a steaming pile of fabrication if taken as history, but as a catalyst for getting people to think about and discuss the issues it touches on, it was exceptionally effective. It was much nearer the mark of "meaningful masala" that blends message with entertainment. Aamir's character may have been a fictional amalgam, but that meant he put a human dimension on to the many complex issues surrounding the era.

The flaws and limitations of the characters in MP were refreshing. Gordon's hesitations and torn allegiances made him more real than a token "righteous gora".

I would not say that either was a bad movie, but for managing to successfully carry a thought-provoking message in an entertaining package, The Rising wins hands down. Yunhi chala still remains my ringtone, though.

Non sum uni angulo natus; patria nea totus hic est mundus. - Seneca

[–] LandStealer 14 years ago

Most hilarious and dumbest thing i have ever read, congrats to 'ABCD' morons like maxqnzs

[–] maxqnzs42 14 years ago

Sorry Landstealer - I'm not American-born (never ever been there), not at all confused, and not very desi. You're 0 for 3.

Noho ora mai, ka kite ano.
Non sum uni angulo natus; patria nea totus hic est mundus. - Seneca

[–] foxnell 17 years ago

I'm personally Swades. I felt the characters breathed more, though ultimately I wanted more to be made of the romatic relationship. I felt in trying to be understated, it was too much so.

I watched the deleted scenes from Rising and felt that some of that would have benefited being in the film to round out the story lines for the love interests. As it was, they seemed to have no real resolution and Emily who was set up to be important dissapeared part way through the film not to be seen again!

That said, both of them have their merits though I wanted them to touch me and make me care more.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] kingkhan 12 years ago

Swades all the way

[–] Tomatish 9 years ago

I'm not crazy about either, but with Swades, the stakes were way too low. Especially when the water pump-thingy (it's been ages since I watched it) didn't work and SRK's character had to look for the problem, the scene was so dramatised that it was just plain silly.

Rising is far from perfect but it was surely more ambitious. I, for one, would rather have failed ambition than successful mediocrity.