Swades is a good film and the writer-director Ashutosh Gowarikar does a handy job of somehow making a long film not only watchable but also endearing. An Indian scientist returns back home and rediscovers his roots- this is the basic synopsis but the film is a lot more nuanced and features some good performances. The lead actor Shah Rukh Khan is a big star in India but here he plays it subtle which is what the performance desires. Gayatri Joshi doesn't have much to do but she is ravishing. This is one of the rare Bollywood films that makes one sit and ponder.