Lagaan
Set in 1890’s India during the height of the British Raj, this is the remarkable story of one village that stands up to its oppressor.
The ruling British have imposed a heavy tax on the farmers of Champaner. The villagers are refused a waiver by the malicious commander, who in turn challenges them to a cricket match with ominous consequences: if the villagers win, they’ll avoid taxation for three years, and if they lose they’ll have to pay triple times the tax. Aamir Khan plays “Bhuvan”, a village youth that leads the team. This film marked a critical turning point in his career and marked him as an internationally recognized talent. This film was featured at the Toronto Film Festival in 2001 and was nominated for best foreign film at the Academy Awards in 2002.
Member Reviews
Very enjoyable - Ben-1
This was the first Bollywood movie I ever watched. Although I was surprised by its length (3:45!!!) and much less surprised by its predictable ending, there were lots of twists and turns that kept me completely interested all the way to the end.
Music and choreography were excellent and very much appropriate to the story. Who wouldn't sing and dance when seeing a couple of clouds during a drought?
And the beautiful chant they do in front of the temple will surely bring tears to your eyes, even though they're essentially praying for a miracle in the cricket game. (We pray for hockey - no diff!)
This is a good one!Excellent! - Arlette
One of the best Bollywood movies I've seen yet! Excellent story with meaning you could sink your teeth into, good characters, the songs were very good: not silly or frivolously peppered throughout. I'd love to have the sound track. Personally, I know nothing about cricket nor am I a big sports fan, but this movie held my attention raptly throughout the cricket match. The love story sub plot was sweet, touching and not sappy. What else can I say, I LOVED it!Entertaining [ a flat three stars] - Moir
I am still thinking about how to rate this film. It was entertaining, driven by a simply presented, striking conflict between really obnoxious bad guys (local British officers in garrison, especially the off-the-scale super dislikeable Captain Russell) and the very likeable villagers led by the photogenic and charming Bhuvan (played by Aamir Khan who was one of the producers of the film). The good guys win in the end with lots of suspense in between.
Singing and dancing at key points, lots of photogenic women with lovely voices and a diversity of striking male characters (the robust bearded seer with voice of thunder, the blacksmith, the Herculean mute who beats a drum or clobbers a cricket ball, etc. ..)
But .. As I watched it the suspension of disbelief faltered and I felt too close to the surface the feeling, 'but the world does not work this way ...' and that some core of judgment that is an important tool in me was being deeply misled by something in this superficially charming film.
Yet many fictions and obvious fables do not create that reaction in me ... (??)
Member Reviews
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Very enjoyable - Ben-1
This was the first Bollywood movie I ever watched. Although I was surprised by its length (3:45!!!) and much less surprised by its predictable ending, there were lots of twists and turns that kept me completely interested all the way to the end.
Music ...Excellent! - Arlette
One of the best Bollywood movies I've seen yet! Excellent story with meaning you could sink your teeth into, good characters, the songs were very good: not silly or frivolously peppered throughout. I'd love to have the sound track. Personally, I know nothing ...Entertaining [ a flat three stars] - Moir
I am still thinking about how to rate this film. It was entertaining, driven by a simply presented, striking conflict between really obnoxious bad guys (local British officers in garrison, especially the off-the-scale super dislikeable Captain Russell) and ...