Best Scenes - Swades: We, the People (2004) Discussion

[–] wetNdry 19 years ago

For me, when panchayat asks SRK about his JAAT (caste), and SRK replies saying that you guys live in which century??
Even here in USA whenever I go to a new friend's house, always someone from his family asks me about my caste! I think it's pathetic and very rude to ask about someone's caste. If people are asking about caste in USA forget about India or rural india. We are atleast 100 yrs backward by thoughts.

"My life is my message."..........GANDHI

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[–] bLuR-7 19 years ago

Yes, I agree with the "bijli" scene.. very heartfelt.

One scene that really had me in tears (and I'm not one who cries at movies) was the scene right before "Yeh Tara Woh Tara". The movie they were watching just stopped, so SRK gathers all the children around for an interesting lesson in star alignment (and class equality to boot!). Actually, I was crying throughout the whole song. I've never done that before. That's a testament to how much the movie moved me.

And I just loathe Taran Ardash's review of the movie.. In which part of the movie does one feel he's watching a documentary? Sheesh.. Utter lack of taste.

Truly SRK's finest performance to date. Can't recommend it enough.

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[–] mikham 19 years ago

The less we talk about Taran Adarsh the better.

I absoluely adored the Yaadon Ki Baraat scene. And leading up to and during the song.

My favourite was the one where SRK goes to gt the rent from he farmer. The way he looks on the way, the way the farmer tells his story, then SRK gives him some money, and his completely muted return. It really really moved me.

It's because I like you that I don't want to be with you. It's a very complicated emotion.

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[–] wetNdry 19 years ago

I believe that rent scene could have been far better, if you consider that scene MINUS srk PLUS somebody else (anybody but SRK).
Now I have come to a conclusion that SRK has wasted some fine performace given by Gaytri, melaram and postman etc. I don't know when srk will stop vomiting on Indian audience with his usual monotonous stupid over acting?

"My life is my message."..........GANDHI

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[–] mikham 19 years ago

Well Kemmcho, even you have to admit he was alot beter in Swades than his normal melodramatic affair.

It's because I like you that I don't want to be with you. It's a very complicated emotion.

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[–] sahil_baweja 19 years ago

Well
SRK has a problem, hes more of an "entertainer" than an actor, and he himself claims so

In every role he puts more of SRK than the character so one has a hard time looking beyond the star but i think in swades he made a sincere effort and shared a decent chemistry with eveyrone in the film plus anyone else in the film might have made the film a little boring...SRKs charisma ( positice or negative) does add energy to the film.

Who ele could have been in the film: who u could atleast try to believe is a project manager at NASA

Manoj bajpai, Hritik, Vivek, Sanjay dutt...none
maybe abhishek bachchan but he looks too young..

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[–] mikham 19 years ago

Aamir Khan might have been able to. That's about it.

It's because I like you that I don't want to be with you. It's a very complicated emotion.

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[–] wetNdry 19 years ago

Well I read/heard that this was role was rejected by Aamir.

Don't forget Ajay Devgan, I think he suits this role better, and He is one of the best bollywood has ever produced.

I belive deadly Dutt would have been nice choice too. He could have deliver another NAAM type role. Don't forget his talent in Kabja or Vastav.

Anil kapoor is also very sincere.

"My life is my message."..........GANDHI

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[–] rayden_san_vass 19 years ago

My suggestion and the best illution might be salman khan he will be like born for this role...

Everybody have watched Hum DilDe Chuke Sanam.... I hope...

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[–] ajc_mallik 19 years ago

My favourite scene is the second time when Gita is doing the math for Mohan, the bathing scene, and train scene where Mohan buys water from the poor boy.
Terribly poignant, and phenomenal acting by all parties. Kudos, Ashutosh!

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[–] veej209 19 years ago

I think the Taran Ardash review may reflect the view of some Indians who feel that cinema should serve as an escape from the harsh realities of living in poverty in India. As he put it, the movie will not cater to the viewer "who is thirsting for entertainment and believes in sunshine/feel-good/escapist cinema".

However, this style of cinema definitely caters to my tastes in movies. Growing up in the United States and frequently visiting relatives in India, I have had the pleasant exposure to two very different cultures and mindsets throughout my life, and this movie to me is a wonderful marriage of both sensibilities in cinema. The sentiments and opinions expressed through these characters are so captivating for me because they are so real; I have lived in relative affluence in America while witnessing poverty in India beyond the wildest imagination of any American. I don't believe Taran Ardash picked up on this major theme of the true nature of an Indian ex-patriot torn between his new home in America and his home country of India. This was a theme that has never been so beautifully captured in cinema before this movie, and for this the director of 'Swades' is truly deserving of appropriate accolades.

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[–] devavratoak 19 years ago

The movie was great, reinvents the patriotism in me.
Swades tells us we need not hold a gun to help the nation.
For me the best part was when M.Bhargava convinces Vinod about his returning to India in the final scenes in NASA. He tells Vinod, " agar itna keh ke bhi tum nahi samjhe to tumhe samjhana hi bekaar hai..... you must come to India to know what it is. "
Man that was awesome.

god bless india
dev

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[–] hermione_winky 19 years ago

i loved the movie and its theme. its a refreshing change from the trashy movies being doled out in recent times.

the best scenes in my opinion were:
rent, water boy,bijli for their poignancy

kids seeing the van, srk and gayatri's argument, and the scene where srk explains his job ("mein bhi wahi karta hoon") were funny.

i think srk has acted very well.
but i felt, gayatri joshi looks too sophisticated for a village. and she can't act the emotional scenes well, she acts only the "i am a strong, patriotic women" scenes well.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] wetNdry 19 years ago

Hermoin, did you just say Gaytri can't act?
Go get a life man.
She has killed your so called Bollywood Badshah with her priceless talent (and beaty..........lol). As I wrote earlier SRK looks pale infront her. Isn't it amazing to see a new comer with such a high standard for acting?

Just watch her expressions again when SRK grabs her from her waist in classroom. Very well directed and acted (by Gayatri), very close to reality.
That's how innocent girls act when they are shy infront of a man. That particular scene just reminds me of somebody!

You gotta watch it again, just for her.

"My life is my message."..........GANDHI

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] hermione_winky 19 years ago

wow, so many gayatri supporters here!

well, remember the scene when she gives srk that gift?? that scene was terrible acting by gayatri. she can't act emotional scenes well (except anger).

i don't know abt tht classromm scene, u all seem to have a lot of experience grabbing girl's waists?! (i mean it lightly, don't be offended)

and, even if she did go to some great college , she is after all teaching in a village school where i don't think she earns much (she is doing it to make ppl literate, remember?), and she still seems to have a lot of money to waste on make up(especially eye-liners), expensive sarees etc etc. i was just looking at it practically. may be i shouldn't, after all, its only a movie, they don't pay for their own make-up or sarees!!!

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[–] sunset2000 19 years ago

Well .. I agree she has a good dressing sense .. somebody pointed out -how she can wear makeup and expensive sarees and other clothes.....
well she had parents who might have left money for her and her brother.. and the clothes she wore were hardly so expensive that some people have to comment on it..
we are supposed to use our imagination for certain unexplained things..Its sad some people just want to criticize about these ..

as far as her acting goes ..she is good for a beginner except for few flaws..

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[–] hermione_winky 19 years ago

by the way, if a guy grabs a girls waist, she would actually hit back!! even if she likes him or something, she would back away immediately!

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[–] ChiBron 19 years ago

well, remember the scene when she gives srk that gift?? that scene was terrible acting by gayatri. she can't act emotional scenes well

Gayatri has like two emotional scenes to speak off in the movie. One occurs right after the 'Yeh Tara' song and the other near the end. I thought she did alright in them. Ur criticism of her based on TWO FREAKIN' SCENES is some serious nitpicking.

i don't know abt tht classromm scene, u all seem to have a lot of experience grabbing girl's waists?! (i mean it lightly, don't be offended)

We do have the experience of watching a TON of OTHER movies. And believe me, it is quite easy to notice when somebody is acting well. That scene would definitely qualify.

and she still seems to have a lot of money to waste on make up(especially eye-liners), expensive sarees etc etc.

The average actor/actress from any movie industry will always look more glamorous then the average human being in real life regardless of what situation they're in. It is the nature of movies. Take it for what it is.

by the way, if a guy grabs a girls waist, she would actually hit back!! even if she likes him or something, she would back away immediately!

Huh? U're saying this because.....?

Anyway, by no means did Gayatri look comfortable by Srk's actions in the classroom. Which is what made her reaction priceless :)

wow, so many gayatri supporters here!

Cuz she's goooood ;)

And no offense, but i've noticed women are genuinely bothered when men appreciate other women. Some of my cousins and sisters couldn't take it when I was going 'Gayatri this and that...' after returning from Swades :D

Enough!

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[–] mikham 19 years ago

hermione, I would completely disagre about the way you said girls would all hit back if grabbed at the waist. Not because I have done this myself, but because that's what acting is. Actors and atresses bring in mannerisms and behaviour as such, as they think would suit the character. Its all about interpretation by the actor. You just interpreted that that is what you would do.

Honestly, in every single film you could probably pick at it like that, without exception.

It's because I like you that I don't want to be with you. It's a very complicated emotion.

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[–] wetNdry 19 years ago

Well Hermoine from my experience I can tell girls don't hit back when grabbed if they like a guy. They just do what Gayatri did in swades.

How about Dhoti scene or srk's bathing scene or when srk leaves her for usa?

Believe me she is the discovery of '04. I consider her talent priceless. Looks like she had done a lot of homework before facing camera for each scene. That's what I called a REAL entertainer a REAL actor/actress.

"My life is my message."..........GANDHI

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[–] hermione_winky 19 years ago

most people i know, actually agree with me as far about gayatri's acting. one more point, she looks self-conscious in most songs.

kemmcho, i didn't say a girl would hit if they like the guy, they wud immediately draw back is what i said. but then again, as someone said, this particular scene can be interpretated differently by different people, drawing back is what i would do, i suppose.

and no offense, most guys like gayatri for her looks, and they forgive her not so great acting skills.

and, a great actress should be able to portray herself without glamour if the situation demands it. that's what makes actresses like rani mukherjee and kajol different and great. they can take the glamour out of them and play any role. and don't tell me they are not pretty; they are.

i know its only gayatri's first movie, she has a good chance of improving. i'm just saying that as far as this movie is considered, i won't say she is an excellent actress. she's ok. i only raised the point abt gayatri in my first post because somebody here(i don't remember who) said she's an excellent actress. she does have flaws, u have to agree(every scene counts, a good actress must do emotional scene well too, even if its only two).
but she can be forgived as its only her first movie.

i think i've been fair in my judgement. i've said she's acted well in certain scenes, and badly in others. and that's a fact.

ok so that was a long post. houmac, please don't take each sentence while replying this time, or your post will be even longer!!

sorry if i've offended all u gayatri fans! :)

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[–] playdoh13 19 years ago

i think everybody has their likings so no need to get offended. As far as "great" actress, there aren't many in bollywood (due to lack of good roles, not talent), but rani, kajol, or even gayatri can be said as "great". Gayatri's only 1 movie old. We've seen alot of kajol and rani, sorry to say they are good not great. (actually I think kajol is crap, but it's my opinion :)

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[–] bsuperior2all 19 years ago

Ok...back on topic..

Favorite scenes...

-The entire "Yu hi chala" song sequence. First off...i just love the song and then there's the beautiful scenery and drawback. It all comes together for a beautiful video.

-The scene in the school when SRK shows off his hidden knowledge about India

-The scene in which SRk and Mela-Ram travel to and from the farmers house. An overall powerful scene...i was most gripped by the farmers performance.

-The shower scene....heh...just pure light-hearted fun along with some great background music.

-Final song sequence of "yeh jo des hai tera". ooooh man this video just hit home in so many ways.

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[–] Draconian_Drake 19 years ago

My best scenes would be:

Mohan Bhargav, Mela Ram and the postmaster "triple-seat" on a scooter......brilliant of Ashutosh to include that in a movie. Goto any rural place in India, and you'll see people travelling that way.

The classroom scene certainly, where Mohan (SRK) shows off his hidden knowledge about India and then grabs Gayatri Joshi's waist.

The complete lead-up to the "Yeh Tara" song, and the song itself. Especially the big divider curtain falling down.......excellent !

The scene when Mohan (SRK) alongwith Mela Ram goto ask money from the farmer in debt, and Mohan's realisation........on his way back, the scene with the boy selling water, and Mohan eventually has tears in his eyes. Supreme acting by SRK, his best scene of the film, according to me.

SRK's bath scene and dhoti scene with Gayatri......provide good comic relief.

The scene where Mohan (SRK) is checking whats wrong with his power-generating unit. Again, SRK's infectious energy at work here.......he runs back and forth the hill, and then jumps into the water.

The "bijli" scene with the old woman.........stands out as the most poignant scenes I've ever seen in recent times. The scene remains with u for an amazing time after u have seen the movie.

Actually, Swades has a brilliant background score and I'm surprised that very few people noticed it. It wasnt even nominated in that category for several Indian awards (like Star-Screen awards, etc.). I mean.......its ridiculous. Swades, by far, had the best background score of 2004. The opening tune was the best (which also can be heard in promos of the film). A.R Rahman at his best !

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[–] maqbool 19 years ago

Definitely the entire scene where SRK goes to the farmer to get the rent and comes back empty handed..........

the whole electricity scene.....

opening credits has some of the best background score ever in hindi film history.......

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[–] Can89 19 years ago

I just saw the film yesterday on DVD and I absolutely loved it!

My favourite scenes would be....

-The scene where SRK goes to the farmer to collect the rent, and comes back empty handed.

-The scene where SRK gives up drinking bottled water after seeing a boy selling water for 25 paisa.

-The whole ‘dhoti’ sequence was very nice.

-SRK’s “Main nahin manta ke hamara desh duniya ka sabse mahaan desh hai” speech.

-SRK and Gayatri’s argument over India’s lack of progress in the first half of Swades.

-The whole sequence leading to the song “Yeh tara”

-The whole sequence when SRK and co. Manage to bring electricity to the village.

-The title song in the climax

I agree with vish cometrue, the background score was outstanding!

A brilliantly directed movie with excellent performances.

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[–] shashikrishna 19 years ago

Yep. Swades has some priceless scenes but the one that I get teary eyed even now is the sequence at the Train station with the young boy selling water. What an irony Mohan realizes in that moment where here he is, this NRI NASA Project Manager but his roots lie in a place where even water has to be bought from a young boy for 25 paise. The tears that well up in his eyes later tell a thousand stories.

Beautiful movie. Will be one of my TOP 5 favorites forever.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] DIRECTino 19 years ago

First of all I would like to say that I'm not from India but from Europe. I liked the movie despite it had all the bad sides typical for the indian movies (it's too long for example).

The scene that impressed me most was the cinema scene. It was great! The way people from different castes were sitting from both sides of the screen and after that a man untied the sheet and people from both sides met.

It's great movie about loving the homeland, india's problems and of course love. :-) Talking about love the main actres was really beautiful. I was surprised this was her first movie...

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[–] hdp07 19 years ago

Ashutosh Gowarikar + AR Rahman + Shah Rukh Khan = Masterpiece!

I think you guys have mentioned most of my favourite scenes so I won't repeat them. Something I'd like to say is:
When SRK is leaving to go back to USA and he's saying good bye to eveyone, and he comes to Mela Ram and mentions opening "dhabba" in USA, and Mela Ram goes: "No Sir, I am fine. It's like... Apni chokhhad ka diya giving light to neighbour's house." I thought this was very original. Not just SRK who realises that his roots are in India but Mela Ram - who is from India - realises that he doesn't belong to USA but in to his own village and country. Ashutosh have touched those people, who live in India but do not realise how greatful they are to live in that country.

The concept of e-mail in the village was nicely portrayed, especially when the postman goes "E-MAIL" with that big grin on his face. I love his character, in Lagaan too.

AR Rahman's music is so powerful that Ashutosh didn't have to write so many dialogues.

Couple of things to improve would be the scene when SRK goes down in that water storage tank and unblocks the pipe. It seems too lame. Bringing electricity in the village sequence was very good though. Wrudh maaji going "bijli" was touchy.

Second thing is Gaytri Joshi's character. She's a great actress and can act very well. But costume designers and make up artist should of given her the look of a school teacher in a village. It seems that attention to costume was critical as you can see when Mela Ram goes to Delhi he puts a suit on which suits his "chanchal" character.

Over all, movie was a masterpiece, just like Lagaan.

"Janha Pyaar hota hai, wanha Parwaa nahin hoti." -- Paro to Devdas

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[–] Monty_roshan97 19 years ago

Man wat can i say about swades?it is easily the best movie ever...i think the "yeh jo des hai tera..swades hai tera"is the best song of all time

SRK was splendid in the role.....

I think the critics should learn to appreciate classy movies

plzz stop criticizing this masterpiece..!!

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[–] neoshanti 19 years ago

"Dia in my houje nd gibing lite to neburrs !"

the one liner from mela raam was absolutely heart shakening ! That had a tremendous impact on me ! I liked that seen the most.

ofcourse the scene where

- srk drinks the 25p water
- the whole journey of srk to the farmer's house for rent
- he defends that "america has its own culture"

very touching sequences..... i think its a story of lifetime..... !
I hv heard tht its a true story of two brothers coming back to a small home village in maharashtra... nd taking responsibility for its development !

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[–] Egon_Spengler 19 years ago

"Dia in my houje nd gibing lite to neburrs !"

Apne chaukhat ka diya aur gibing lite to nebdurrs' houz

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[–] turtlesforever-1 19 years ago

i am also from europe and i have to say, i think this movie is one of my favourite movies ever. not just for the portrayal of india and srk's not so over-the-top acting, but mostly for the scene when mohan tells the village people about what he thinks about the differences between america and india. my husband, who's egyptian, had tears in his eyes then (even though he didn't like the movie that much), because of what was said....it's exactly (sometimes even word for word) what he tells people in egypt. that was amazing.

my other favourite scenes are:

- the rent scene with the poor farmer and afterwards the kid with the water in the train station, that was just incredibly touching.

- the cinema scene

- the gita's possible future husband comes and visits and she tells them what she thinks, you go girl!

- when mohan and gita discuss the whole situation in india when they are having dinner, fantastic and really good acting.

- the love song, i just loved the fact that they were not dancing around and stuff as you see in most indian movies, but just kept looking at each other, smiling. that was SO touching.

- when gita tells him that she wants him to be happy, that's all. sigh.

- the whole electricity scene, brilliant.

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[–] 19 years ago

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