Swades is simply one of those rare gems that once you see them you know they're special, and realise there is so much depth to their beauty.

Ashutosh Gowariker clearly demonstrates once again that he is a director in control of his art, and message that he wishes to portray in this art form. His genius here was to chose an A-list actor who would not only do justice to the central character, but also give the kind of exposure an important film like this commands. In my opinion Shah Rukh Khan delivers a career best performance in his role as 'Mohan'. You see SRK stripped of his usual Bollywood fare, and deliver a honest but charismatic performance that is truly trying to make a change in this world. Credit for this performance must not be taken away from the director, who helped extract those extra little nuances and depth from his lead actors.

The messages in this movie do not instantly throw themselves at you, rather they are conveyed like subliminal images and in the form of body language. The cinematography is original and flows gracefully throughout, and it makes an impact in epic terms when you least expect it. Style is never sacrificed over substance, but nevertheless the film has so much style it goes unnoticed on a first viewing. Characters are given the opportunity to breath a personality which is rare in modern Indian cinema. Both the script and screenplay simply mesmerises.

You take so much away with you in this movie that it's almost thought provoking. There's a yearning to know what happens to these characters after, and a hope that they do live on in happiness.

One of the best Indian movies of the decade.