Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
2001 · Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker
Original language: Hindi
- adventure
- drama
- history
The story
The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached and wide, with the dry Gujarati-style plains rendered in dusty ochre and burnt gold, the film moves between sweeping crane shots of crowds and village streets to close, warm framings of faces under open skies. Its musical numbers burst with saturated colour and full orchestral swell, while the cricket sequences build tension through tight cuts, slow-motion arcs of the ball and the crack of bat on leather. Pacing is generous, unhurried in the village scenes and climactically taut in its final match. The mood is earnest and buoyant: a hopeful underdog story laced with romance, comedy and a stern undercurrent of colonial injustice. Violence is minimal, limited to a few brief scuffles and the threat of punishment, with no gore. Its intensity is emotional rather than physical, the stakes carried by pride and friendship. It suits a long Sunday afternoon, a family viewing, or anyone wanting a sweeping, singalong epic with heart. It is for viewers who enjoy big-hearted period adventure, sports underdogs and the warmth of community spirit.
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