There are good Bollywood movies, great Bollywood movies and then there is Swades! For me, this movie is simply perfection. Even though Swades did not receive approval from Indian critics, this movie for me was one of the best things to come from Indian cinema.

The story is quite simple and something which all of us NRIs relate to - being abroad, lonely for long and craving for that companionship and love which we all grew up with back in India. Childhood back in India was full of fun, with cousins, friends, neighbours, relatives and living abroad deprives you of all that. So I could relate this movie soo much to my circumstances, especially when the final song arrives, I thought it was time to pack my bags and head home for good. Sadly, life does not work this way. Still, this movie reminds me of all those golden days, long gone now and puts a smile on my face every time I watch it.

Coming to the movie, it is full of sweet nothings and strong social messages. The film makes a strong case of people coming together as Humans and not to distinguish or discriminate! Such a simple message and it is shown in the most simplistic but very effective way in the movie. The love story between the lead characters was subtle but very sweet and effective. The songs, they elevate the movie onto a new level altogether!

All the songs are masterpieces and no one other than A.R.Rahman could do full justice for this film. Just listen to "Yeh jo desh hai tera", it surely makes you feel nostalgic. "Saawarya" and "Dekho Na" are excellent love ballads, whereas "Yuhi Chala" and "Yeh Tara" provoke the sense of fun, enjoyment and unity! "Aahista" is one of the best lullabies ever composed and "Pal pal hai bhari" tells an episode from Ramayana in a convincing way.

Swades is one of my favourite Bollywood movies and I still own a pristine collectors edition DVD of this film and watch it time to time, whenever I am feeling home-sick.