Swades(2004)
Swades is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker. It stars Shah Rukh Khan as Mohan Bhargava, a NASA scientist, with Gayatri Joshi in her debut role. The story follows Mohan's journey from the United States to a rural Indian village, where he reconnects with his childhood nanny and confronts the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. The film contrasts modern American life with traditional Indian village culture. It is known for its realistic tone, strong performances, and patriotic themes without jingoism. Swades was critically acclaimed but had a moderate box office performance. The film is available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Netflix
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2004
- Director
- Ashutosh Gowarikar
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 3h 30m
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
A successful NASA scientist returns to India to find his childhood nanny. He discovers a village trapped in poverty and old traditions. He must choose between his comfortable life in America and his duty to help his homeland. His decision changes everything.
“One man. One choice. One nation.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Swades
Cast reunions in this film: A. R. Rahman & Shahrukh Khan (5 films together), and A. R. Rahman & Ashutosh Gowarikar (3 films together).
Trivia
- Shah Rukh Khan took no payment for acting in the film, instead investing his own money as a producer.
- The village scenes were shot in a real village called Wai in Maharashtra, not on a set.
- The song 'Yeh Tara Woh Tara' was partly inspired by a famous Hindi poem for children called 'Taaron Ka Raaja'.
- Director Ashutosh Gowariker also played a small role as a train passenger in one scene.
- The film was not a big box office hit when released but later became a beloved classic.
- NASA scientist Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, a real Indian rocket expert, was a consultant for Shah Rukh Khan's role.
- The film's title 'Swades' means 'one's own country' in Hindi.