Swades

"Swades: We, the People" is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed, co-written, and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker. The film features Shah Rukh Khan, Gayatri Joshi, and Kishori Ballal in leading roles, with supporting appearances by Daya Shankar Pandey, Rajesh Vivek, and Lekh Tandon. The music and background score for the film are composed by A. R. Rahman. The plot is inspired by episodes from the series "Vaapsi," part of Zee TV's "Yule Love Stories" (1994–95), with Ashutosh Gowariker himself previously playing the role of Mohan Bhargav. The narrative revolves around Mohan, a non-resident Indian working on NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement program in the United States. Upon learning about the whereabouts of Kaveri Amma, his childhood caretaker, he embarks on a journey to India. After tracing her to the village of Charanpur, he discovers the transformative work being done by his childhood friend Geeta, particularly in the realm of education. "Swades" weaves a tale of cultural reconnection, societal transformation, and personal growth as Mohan's interactions with the villagers lead to the inception of a small hydroelectric power generation unit and a shift in his own life choices. The film opened to critical acclaim upon its release in December 2004, with particular praise for the performances of the cast, the compelling storyline, and the musical score by A. R. Rahman. Although it received critical acclaim, it did not fare well at the commercial box office. "Swades" garnered multiple nominations at the 50th Filmfare Awards and received accolades for Best Actor (Shah Rukh Khan) and Best Background Score (A. R. Rahman), among others.