Patriotism Before the Pivot
Before the turn of the millennium, patriotism in Bollywood often had a clear-cut formula. It was found in the valour of soldiers on the frontlines and the passionate rejection of foreign influence. Films like 'Border' (1997) and 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'
(2001) became anthems of national pride, defining patriotism through conflict with an external enemy, usually Pakistan. Earlier, in the 1970s, Manoj Kumar, nicknamed 'Bharat Kumar', built a career on films like 'Purab Aur Paschim', which championed Indian culture against the West. This brand of cinema was direct, emotionally charged, and left little room for nuance. It presented a nation that needed to be defended, not one that needed to be questioned.
Swades: Building a Nation, One Bulb at a Time
Ashutosh Gowariker’s 'Swades' (2004) arrived as a quiet revolution. It proposed a radical idea: the most patriotic act wasn't fighting an enemy, but returning home to fix what's broken. The film follows Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan), a successful NASA scientist who visits his village in India and is confronted by its deep-rooted issues of caste, poverty, and illiteracy. 'Swades' argues for a form of patriotism rooted in contribution, not conflict. Mohan doesn't deliver grand speeches; he uses his skills to bring electricity to a village. The film’s nationalism is introspective and constructive, suggesting that true nation-building happens at the grassroots level and requires participation, not just pride. It was a call for the privileged to turn their gaze inward and take responsibility.
Rang De Basanti: Patriotism as Righteous Protest
If 'Swades' was a gentle whisper, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s 'Rang De Basanti' (2006) was a resounding roar. The film follows a group of aimless university students who are jolted from their apathy when their friend, an Air Force pilot, is killed due to a faulty aircraft purchased through government corruption. 'Rang De Basanti' framed patriotism as an act of dissent. It drew a direct parallel between the British colonisers of the past and the corrupt political system of the present, suggesting the new enemy was within. The film famously argues there are two ways to live: tolerate injustice or take responsibility to change it. For its characters, taking responsibility escalates from peaceful protest to radical action, presenting a more volatile and unsettling vision of modern patriotism where holding power accountable is the ultimate service to the nation.
A Tale of Two Modern Patriots
Though different in tone and approach, 'Swades' and 'Rang De Basanti' were two sides of the same coin. Both films rejected passive, flag-waving love for the country and demanded active citizenship. 'Swades' championed working from within the system, using one's skills for gradual, sustainable change. Its hero builds; he doesn't break. 'Rang De Basanti' explored what happens when the system is too broken to work with, justifying rebellion as a patriotic duty. One film is about the responsibility of the educated elite to contribute, while the other is about the youth's responsibility to challenge injustice. Together, they dismantled the old binary of soldier vs. civilian and replaced it with a spectrum of what a patriot could be: a builder, a teacher, a protestor, a questioner.
The Legacy of a New Patriotism
Two decades later, the impact of these films is undeniable. They broadened the definition of a patriotic film, paving the way for movies about social reform like 'Pad Man', sports dramas like 'Chak De! India', and issue-based stories like 'Article 15'. They separated patriotism from jingoism, arguing that to love your country is to see its flaws and work to correct them. While a louder, more aggressive form of nationalism has also found its footing in recent cinema, 'Swades' and 'Rang De Basanti' remain cultural touchstones. They remind audiences that patriotism isn't just a feeling you have; it's something you do. They transformed love for one's country from a statement into a lifelong question: What are you doing to make it better?
