Swades

"This is such an amazing movie. I watched it almost two decades ago. Shah Rukh Khan, Mohan, is a successful man who returns to India to the village where he grew up for just a short visit. While there, he is reunited with his childhood friend, Gayatri Joshi, or Geeta. Mohan is faced with the harsh reality of daily life for some families whose lives are extremely simple, because of poverty, and there is inconsistent power in the village, making daily chores difficult. Mohan decides to help the village with their troubles, and learns more about how he views success and family. Hindi audio."

"quickly falling in love with indian cinema. it's like how movies in hollywood used to be... great. "

"This is a rewatch. A phenomenal film overall. This is a film with a deep love for the country without being jingoistic while also serving as a call for social change and simultaneously making the viewer think about their roots and contributions to society. Phenomenal acting across the board (Shahrukh Khan is easily the film's MVP and emotional anchor (easily the best performance of his career), with the supporting cast also giving great performances), paired with a low-key and slow-burn approach to the storytelling that works remarkably well (water is a powerful theme throughout the film). Also features an all-time great score and soundtrack by A. R. Rahman as well ('Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera' in particular really complements the film's themes so well). This is a case where a long running time is justified for the themes and story to really resonate. As a person of Indian descent living outside India, this film has resonated with me deeply on an emotional level. This is my #1 favorite Bollywood movie ever for this reason. I have loved this film ever since I saw it as a teenager, and my appreciation has only grown over time. This has got to be one of the greatest follow-ups I have ever seen for a film's director (Ashutosh Gowariker directed this film as an immediate follow-up to the Oscar-nominated LAGAAN). I am so glad that this film is getting the appreciation that it is getting now (the film actually underperformed at the box office at the time of release but has since gained a cult classic status and is deservedly considered one of the best Bollywood films of the 2000s decade). Highly recommended."

"Such a heartfelt movie and charming too"