Swades is a refreshingly welcome breeze of novelty and experimentation in Indian cinema. Perhaps the only glaring flaw is the unnecessary length of the film  I thought 2 songs could definitely have been omitted from the final picture. But having said that it is an opening to a wonderful new era in our films that we had all but given up on. The story of an NRI visiting India, mixing with the people who are the true representatives of rural India, his emotions, his silent observations and western outlooks, his experiences and ultimate dilemma. Shahrukh Khan has underplayed his character to near perfection and for a change he is presented as a human rather than a demi-God. There is no overacting, no unnecessary histrionics and the 'gyan' is also restricted to the minimum. One or two scenes like where the heroine is in conversation with her prospective in-laws could have perhaps been less pedantic and more toned down. But otherwise the Lagaan director is very visible in the Swades flick. It is not a groundbreaking film in its songs or choreography but it is one of the most sensible and down-to-earth films that you can hope for in Indian cinema. While we can hum and dance to the romances filmed by the Chopras and Johars it is very rare to see reality presented in such a positive and inspirational manner by a Bollywood director. Coming post Yuva it is heartening to know that influential people in India are thinking of our country as a possibility for real prosperity. The interest and effort put into this movie cannot be for profit alone. It is moving to see filmmakers moving beyond the usual song/dance sequences and slapstick comedy and delving into serious movie-making. You can't make a Swades if you are not touched by the India we live in today. And for that we need to make films like this successful, commercially viable. It is serious cinema because the subject is serious. Full marks to Ashutosh Gowriker for going beyond one's petty sense of self and looking at the larger picture and understanding just how small we really are on the face of the earth. Do go to the theatres and make this movie a hit so we can encourage these social thinkers. Like the director himself says "It is not a call to only the NRIs to come back home, it is a call to resident Indians also to look at the India that is and give something back."