From Gandhian motifs to filming at NASA, here are some memorable facts about SRK-Ashutosh Gowariker’s tribute to the homeland.

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Revisiting Shah Rukh Khan - Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades: 26 lesser-known facts about the cult classic

Team CE

Updated:17th Jun, 2021 at 5:59 PM

The film was inspired by Aravinda Pillalamarri and Ravi Kuchimanchi, an NRI couple who moved back to India to develop electricity in Bilgaon, Maharashtra.

The film’s plot was taken from the 2003 Kannada film Chigurida Kanasu.

In the Kannada film, Shivarajkumar’s character visits a remote village and sets up a micro hydro electric project to generate power.

Another inspiration was Bapu Kuti, Rajani Bakshi’s book about activists who’ve moved away from stable professions to bring societal change.

R Madhavan and Hrithik Roshan were the first choices for Swades. Aamir Khan, who starred in Gowariker’s Lagaan, also passed on the film.

Swades released the same year as Veer-Zaara and Main Hoon Na.

For the role of Mohan Bhargav, Shah Rukh Khan picked up the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite, which Mohan is working on, was an actual NASA mission launched in 2014.

The US portions were shot at Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. SRK would return to the NASA facility after 14 years for Zero.

The tune of ‘Yun Hi Chala Chal’ was originally composed for Lagaan but never used.

'Yun Hi Chala Chal’ is heard playing in a cab in Deadpool 2 (2018).

The film was initially titled ‘Desh’.

Actor-model Gayatri Joshi made her debut with Swades. It remains her only film.

Gayatri won the Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female for Swades.

The role of Kaveri Amma, Mohan’s childhood caretaker, was played by Kishori Ballal. The veteran Kannada actor passed away in 2018.

The classic weepie, Yadon Ki Baarat, is screened for the villagers in Swades. Aamir Khan is one of the child actor’s in the film.

Ashutosh Gowariker voiced for Shah Rukh Khan in Pal Pal Hai Bhari.

Swades is a rare film where a character migrates to a rural area. Another example would be Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots.

Makrand Deshpande appears as the tramp in Yun Hi Chala Chal. His ecstasy at receiving that mineral water bottle at the song’s end is unmatched.

The film was dubbed in Tamil as Desam and released on Republic Day, 2005.

Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, praised the themes of Gandhism in the film. ‘Mohan‘ was also the birth name of the great leader.

Oscar-winner Bhanu Athaiya created the costumes for Swades. She had also worked on Lagaan.

The film was majorly shot in Menawali in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Yudh, Gangaajal and Bajirao Mastani were also shot there.

In 2013, SRK named Swades among the most definitive films of his career. “The greatest way for an actor to count his years is, for each of them to be defined by a film. DDLJ yr...Swades yr...KKHH yr..

Swades, Pehla Nasha, Baazi and What’s Your Raashee are the only Ashutosh Gowariker films set in present or contemporary times.

Swades is name-checked in the recent web-series, Panchayat, about a young man posted to a village.

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