Swades or Lagaan?

Indian Crab Masala

Here is a question for IMers.

Which is a better movie? Lagaan or Swades? Why?

Which of the two films is more worthy of an OSCAR nomination and why? (popularity or Box-office success excluded as logic)

Please post your views.

May I request everyone:

Please NO flames

NO personal attacks

NO arguments

Grown-ups should be able to accept every individual's right to have a different viewpoint - lets learn to VALUE DIFFERENCES

somnath

I’ll vote for:
Swades - because it was good to see an NRI return home. Because this option is the nearest one.

Lagaan is a good movie, but I found Swadesh much better. ‘Cricket’ as a symbol of protest / war against the foreign rulers is, you know……. something not very practical (personal opinion).

On the other hand, in Swadesh, ‘Returning’ was reasonable and the change of thought - change of mindset of that NRI was represented with much more acceptable way (we found NRI becomes a Human rather than an Indian).

And another important thing is the Time. Now this is more important to bring back the resources rather than fight against the foreigners. From this angle the impact of Swadesh is much more appealing.

- Somnath

minime

I liked Swades - because it accurately portrayed the pains and anguish of someone who has to live far away from his own people.

crvlvr

Well Lagaan was nominated for best foreign Pic and Swades was not.

Indian Crab Masala

I liked the part where Shahrukh is telling he was missing Amma. Also where he is saying peoples should "jes" take responsibility and not be hiding only behind tradition and culture!

watching the film, we are having very funny laugh and also crying only, no?

soulfood

I can't really choose one. Swades is fresh in our mind so I know it'll get more votes. I loved Swades too though I voted for Lagaan because it's a more entertaining movie. But I'm really torn, I'd have voted both if there was an option.

Talking of options, I think there should be two more...

O Lagaan, for other reasons
O Swades, for other reasons

tornado989

I liked Swades but I loved Lagaan. Swades was appealing but Lagaan was powerful. Aamir Khan was great in portraying the 'killer instinct' effect.....so powerful, that my american buddies started taking interest in cricket...and now theres a cricket club in rural pennsylvania (in my univ)!!!....Swades is also an eye opener but a little unrealistic...you cannot expect truckloads of NRIs chucking their settled lives and returning back to their villages.....however, I think Shahrukh's acting was commendable...he showed intensity but not as much as Aamir in Lagaan....as far as Oscars are concerned...well, Lagaan wld have got it had it been an ODI than a test match! :-D *joking!

SHIMLA

Though the two movies cannot be compared to each other, my vote goes to Lagaan, for sheer entertainment value.

Swades is more like a documentary.

If we are comparing the two movies only because they are directed by the same person, then Ashutosh Gowariker's directorial debut "Pehla Nashaa" was far better than either Lagaan or Swades !

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wandering_kat

Agree with Shimla - Lagaan for entertainment value - it wins over Swades by a dose of humour....

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natasha chanda acharya

Even though i went ga-ga over Swades, i guess my vote goes for Lagaan. Not for any of the vote options above but just that it was a really well made movie. In terms of plot, character potraits, conviction... It was also better woven. But anyway, both movies are absolutely brilliant. So i will just go ahead and do my hail Ashotosh!

tornado989

both contained GREAT music!!!! A.R Rehman's sweetly timed 'cover drive' :-)

shere

Both films were too predictable and just did not have that wow factor.

Gangster flicks like Satya are far better movies than Lagaan and Swades.

Sarforash is a better Amir Khan movie than Lagaan.

spitze_udz

I agree.. both these movies lacked something that can help in winning an Oscar.

If we talk of other movies,then BLACK should definitely be nominated !

phantom

I think Amir Khan is a hugely over rated actor.. But he has this uncanny ability to choose the right films.. He also makes mistakes (Mann, Mela) but these are rare.. !! As an actor he is ok . just like Salmaan Khan .. he has improved a lot but still a one dimensional actor. You can' really differentiate between an Amir khan in "Hum Hain Raahi Pyar ke" with "Akele hum akele tum" or "mela" or "mann" or "Dil" .. he acts the same way, same passion same expressions..
But he has made some excellent choices of films over the years.

Coming back to the topic.. Lagaan was a better movie with better story and better characters.. Swades is, at best a noble intention, Its more of a documentary, an eye opener kinda movie.

tornado989

phantom:

interesting you mention the word 'over rated'...by that degree Shahrukh is 10x over rated than the rest...don't you think so? He's an awesome businessman though...gets the perfect 'masala' for his movies - best directors, best music, best costumes...etc etc...and makes moolah among the classes and masses.... :-)..what say u?