Lagaan

Kimberly Crater

Movie Review Lagaan

Lagaan, a 2001 film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, follows villagers in colonial India as they fight against the imperialist British in a cricket match. Lagaan was nominated for several awards including Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2002. The film also won its star and producer Aamir Khan a Filmfare Best Actor award.

The small village of Champaner is said to lie in the heart of India in the late 19^th century. The plight of the villagers, depending on agriculture and facing a drought, is similar to that of thousands of other villagers. Around Champaner lies a British cantonment led by Captain Andrew Russell (Paul Blackthorne). Captain Russell imposes a double tax on the already strained citizens of Champaner. The villagers, led by Bhuvan (Aamir Khan), attempt to have the tax waived for a year since severe drought has made farming difficult. Captain Russell makes a deal with Bhuvan that the village will not have to pay any taxes for three years if they can beat the British in a game of cricket, but failure would force the villagers to pay triple the normal tax. Bhuvan has three months to find and train a team. Bhuvan and his team must learn everything about cricket, including how to catch a ball. They receive help from Captain Russell’s sister, Elizabeth Russell (Rachel Shelley), who takes pity on the plight of the villagers and falls in love with Bhuvan. During the game, it seems unlikely that Bhuvan will be able to defeat the skilled British team, but through their dedication and passion, the team of amateurs becomes the heroes of the village.

Before assembling a team, Bhuvan must first convince the other villagers that winning is possible. He eventually gathers a blend of people, from different religions, castes, communities, etc. to join his team, barely having enough members to make a full team. After finding and allowing the final and most controversial player to join the team, Kachra (Aditya Lakhia) a physically disabled untouchable who has the ability to spin the cricket ball, Bhuvan made an impassioned speech demanding that Kachra will play. Bhuvan insisted that Kachra would have a definite impact on the game. The other members reluctantly allowed Kachra to join the team, however after joining the team, Kachra never spoke and is barely seen during their training. However, it was only with Kachra’s help and ability to spin the ball that the villagers were able to win the game. The combination of players on the village team, not only combined their skills, but also made use of the passion, emotion, religion and, in Kachra’s case, disability. It took disjointed members and forced them to unite for a common goal.

The British often contrasted the villagers in both attitude and appearance. Captain Russell lectured Bhuvan on the civility of cricket after Bhuvan compared it to a child’s game that was commonly played by villages. When the British are playing cricket, they are wearing matching pressed white pants and clean oxford shirts. Bhuvan and his team are not wearing matching outfits and while playing, are covered in dirt. The villagers who come to watch Bhuvan and his team take on the British scatter the sun-covered hillside overlooking the playing field. The British who have come across India to watch the game sit at tables under umbrellas, drinking tea and dressed in fine Victorian attire. During the game itself, the British, led by Captain Russell, make frequent complaints at the playing style of Bhuvan and his team, arguing that it is not the way that cricket is played. However, since there are no rules against what the villagers are doing, Captain Russell is told he must wait until after the game to change the rules. Captain Russell and his teammates see the game of cricket as a mark of civility and class, yet it is British who often play unsportsmanlike and deviously. The bowler for the British team intentionally hits one of the villagers in the head with the ball. Even though the British appear civilized while playing, their actions during the game are rude and unmannerly.

Bhuvan and the villagers played with passion. Bhuvan even allowed one person on the team because of his passion. However, that passion could turn into a weakness for several of the players. As emotions would run high, costly mistakes were made. Bhuvan was frequently reminding his teammates to remain calm and emotionally grounded during the game. In contrast, the British players generally made calculated and emotionless decisions. The British had plays and strategies far more sophisticated than anything that could be learned in three months. While the calculated techniques of the British seem to offer them an advantage, it is the fervor and passion of Bhuvan that wins in the end.

Like most sports stories, Lagaan focuses on the struggle between the underdog and the powerhouse. As the leader of the underdog team, Bhuvan must help them unite to win, not for “fun or entertainment,” as Bhuvan said, but in order to save the village. The movie speaks to what is possible when people are willing to look past divisions, even temporarily, to achieve a common goal.

Works Cited

Lagaan - Once upon a Time in India. Dir. Ashutosh Gowariker. Perf. Aamir Khan, Paul Blackthorne and Rachel Shelley. 2001. DVD.

"Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. Apr. 2010. .