Swades: Gîtâ embarrassed then wistful as her suitors retreat

Swades: Gîtâ's sober and nostalgic gaze as yet another disappointed suitor turns away from her stubborn independence. Mohan is even more stunned by the beauty of the bride-to-be, and tries to read her true feelings beneath the restrained expression.

Video illustration to "Science of love: look into Gîtâ's eyes in the Homeland" (http://www.svabhinava.org/abhinava/Dial ogues/ShrngaraBhakti Seva-frame.php)

Paper on "Love, devotion, and service: retelling the Râmâyana in Gowarikar's Homeland (Swades)"

http://www.svabhinava.org/abhinava/Sunthar-Universalization/LoveDevotionServi...

at the DANAM panel (09 Nov 2009) at the American Academy of Religions conference at Montreal.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Swades
• Gita
• Gayatri
• Joshi
• suitor
• gaze
• dignity
• embarrassment
• aesthetics
• Abhinavagupta

[whatever3009]

I dont think that Gita is embarassed in this video at all because she is neither playing an eager bride to be nor she is thinking that she is being judged as a merchandise in marriage market, its your fantasy if you are thinking thats what is happening. I agree that it happens in indian society considering I am a part of it, but this scene is in no way absolutely no way showing that.

[pandit2406]

You're right in observing that Gîtâ "is neither playing an eager bride to be nor is she thinking that she is being judged as a merchandise in marriage market." My point, however, is that she is embarrassed in having to act out her predicament in front of Mohan.

Why does she glance at Mohan as she enters the hall, and while seated? Why does the otherwise intrigued Mohan leave them alone to puff a cigarette outside? And, why at the end, does she keep looking blankly after the departed guests?

[pandit2406]

OTOH Gîtâ is fiercely independent & dedicated to her teaching vocation, OTOH she believes in tradition & prays to Lord Râma. This conflict inevitably comes to the fore whenever she meets an otherwise suitable suitor, who insists she assumes the role of a 'traditional' housewife. She is therefore torn between regret and relief at not committing.

The NRI recognizes that proud Gîtâ is living her own version of 'exile' in the midst of tradition (as Sîtâ in Ram Lila scene to follow)

Sunthar

[akashchokshi]

sharukh khan is soooo freaking happy after they leave...

[zairt]

Gita is so pretty and simple without showing skin...............

[pandit2406]

Mohan does play the teasing Krishna to gradually break down Gîtâs wall of resistance [...] She accepts the NRI fully only after recognizing the contemporary Râma hidden, even unknown to himself, behind the initial façade of Krishna. Gîtâs subsequent self-willed declaration of love is to a surprised (social re-)engineer, whose mind is engrossed in his collective enterprise. After performing the Râm Lîlâ scene, Gîtâ plays a wholly supportive and passive role beside her Mohan.

[pandit2406]

She recognizes the incorrigibly cheeky Mohan, whom she finds even more irritating and even infuriating than did Râdhâ, to be her real Raghunâth, only when he soberly answers her prayers while playing the role of Sîtâ during the Râm Lîlâ. Whereas mistress Râdhâ is typically proud, possessive, and jealous, Sîtâ is selflessly devoted to Râma from the moment she chooses him (svayamvara) for husband.

[pandit2406]

[Summary of my reply:]

The tradition-minded suitor whom Gîtâ rejects is named Raghunâth, i.e., (lord of the Raghu clan =) Râma. However, the point here is not that she rejects the divine hero (to whom she is shown praying intently on our first visit to the Charanpur temple), but that she refuses to recognize (the reality behind) her idol in outmoded socio-religious prejudices, for example, the patriarchal domestication and submission of women.

[pandit2406]

I've replied to RahulSeth2007's comment above and a couple of other viewer comments on my other Swades clips in my post of 21 Nov 2009 appended to my DANAM paper on Swades of 06 Nov 2009. See the video info box above for the hyperlink to the paper.

Sunthar

[pandit2406]

Continuation of RahulSeth2007's comment:

"... So again a contrast between Ramayan and Shrimad Vishnu Purna ... and the song "saawariya saawariya" refers to the love of Lord "Shri Krishna" whereas the "pal pal hai bhari" is there to show the devotion to the "Lord Ram" brings again a contrast ...

Movie is filled with all great Incidents ... it's a great movie showing all the "BEYOND HUMANITY RELATIONSHIPS"... "

[End of RahulSeth2007's comment]

[pandit2406]

Comment posted by RahulSeth2007 3 weeks ago at my YouTube channel:

"Psychoanalysis of a movie like Swades ... requires tremendous efforts ... bas yehi soch ke hum âpke kâm ke fan ho gaye [just reflecting on this, I've become a fan of your work - SV] ... jai jai pandit ji ... GITA (Bhavagad gita ) was going to marry RAGHUNATH (Ram) in the movie ... but later she realises that her partner for the life should be MOHAN (Krishna)."

[continued below]