Plot
The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers...

Release Year: 2001

Rating: 8.1/10 (16,867 voted)

Critic's Score: 84/100

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Stars: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley

Storyline
This is the story about the resilience shown by the Indians when they were under the British Rule. They are already taxed to the bone by the British and their cronies, but when Jack Russell announces that he will double the Lagaan (tax) from all villagers, they decide to oppose it. Leading the villagers is a handsome young man named Bhuvan, who challenges them to a game of cricket, a game that is to be played by veteran British cricket players, versus villagers, including Bhuvan himself, who have never played this game before, and do not even know a bat from a piece of wood. As the challenge is accepted, the interest grows and attracts Indians from all over the region, as well as the British from all over the country - as everyone gathers to see the 'fair play' that the British will display against their counter-parts, who are aided by none other than the sister, Elizabeth, of Captain Rusell.

Writers: Ashutosh Gowariker, Ashutosh Gowariker

Cast:
Aamir Khan - Bhuvan
Gracy Singh - Gauri
Rachel Shelley - Elizabeth Russell
Paul Blackthorne - Captain Andrew Russell
Suhasini Mulay - Yashodamai
Kulbhushan Kharbanda - Rajah Puran Singh
Raghuvir Yadav - Bhura (as Raghuveer Yadav)
Rajendra Gupta - Mukhiya
Rajesh Vivek - Guran
Shri Vallabh Vyas - Ishwar (as Sri Vallabh Vyas)
Javed Khan - Ram Singh
Rajendranath Zutshi - Ismail (as Raj Zutshi)
Akhilendra Mishra - Arjan
Daya Shankar Pandey - Goli
Yashpal Sharma - Lakha

Taglines: Once upon a time in India

Official Website: Aamir Khan Productions / indiatimes (warning: opens a big window, flash only) | Aamir Khan Productions [India] (English) |

Release Date: 8 May 2002

Filming Locations: Bhuj, Gujarat, India

Box Office Details

Budget: $6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $285,368 (USA) (17 June 2001) (34 Screens)

Gross: $835,767 (USA) (8 July 2001)

Runtime: 224 min

Trivia:
Model turned actress Sonali Bendre was interested in playing "Gauri" but Aamir Khan rejected her, felt that she looked much like a Westerner.

Goofs:
Continuity: When Kachra takes his first wicket he hits the OFF Stump. Later in the next scene it shows that he hit the MIDDLE stump and the OFF Stump is not at all moved.

Quotes:
[the other villagers are refusing to let an untouchable join the team]
Bhuvan: Let me remind you all of one thing: this is not a game we are playing for fun and entertainment - this is a fight we must win.

Boy, was I surprised!

Rating: 10/10

Okay, I am not from India, not even close. I am from Scandinavia. Before Lagaan I had never watched any Hindi movies of any kind. I know about 3 words from the hindi language. And I don't like musicals much. I viewed the movie on a DVD of rather poor quality compared to the state of the art DVDs I am used to. And I was told the movie lasted close to 4(!) hours... I figured this would be a complete waste of time... BOY was I wrong! This movie is completely the opposite! It is just amazing! Mr. Gowariker has selected an incredible cast with Aamir Khan in the lead. He makes an stunning performance as the village rebel, Bhuvan. He tries to unite the village in a struggle for life against the greedy Britons. The Britons exploit the villages by collecting lagaan (tax). This means that most of the harvest surplus is gone and there is just enough left for food for the farmers themselves. It's a classic war between "David", the native villagers of India, and "Goliath", the powerful and greedy Britons. But what makes it really interesting is that this war is fought in a Cricket arena. This is a challenge from the Britons, who are well known with Cricket, against the village, where most people have never laid eyes upon a cricket bat. If the villagers win, there will be no lagaan at all, for three years! And if the Britons win, they will collect triple lagaan, which will mean the end of the village. The stakes could not be higher!!

I can't remember a movie being this thrilling and having so much life in it. And the music has a huge impact thanks to the great voices of Udit Narayan, Lata Mangeshkar etc. And the dancing is a chapter in itself! Few or none will leave this movie not remembering the song "Mitwa, sun Mitwa". It is a must see for everyone, inside and outside of India. And this movies has been totally righteously nominated for an Oscar too, and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes all the way to the top. It has my vote! It gets 10 out of 10 from me. Excellent!

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