Lagaan (Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (DVD))

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Product:	Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (DVD)
Date:	24/04/08 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Story, Performance, Music

Disadvantages: None for me

Lagaan was released in 2001 and is one of the biggest blockbusters in Indian Cinema, the movie is all about at the time of British rule in India in 1893. It is based on Cricket but the reason for cricket is because of Lagaan(Tax). Cricket match between the Villagers of Champaner village & British officers who were responsible of collecting tax from that region.

Cast :
Aamir Khan (As Bhuvan)
Gracy Singh (As Gauri)
Paul Blackthorne (As Captain Russell)
Rachel Shelley (As Elizabeth)
Raj Jutshi, Raghubir Yadav, Aditya Lakhia, Yashpal Sharma, Amin Hajee etc playing the roles of ( Bhura, kachra, ismail, Lakha, Goli etc the part of the cricket team for champaner village)

Music : A R Rahman
Produced by : Aamir Khan
Directed by : Ashutosh Gowariker.

Plot :

The movie starts with the voice of Amitabh Bachchan who is the the narrator in the movie. It shows the British rule in India, at that time all the people in India were suppose to pay tax to the British Government. There is this village Champaner where there was no rain last year & this year also there is no sign of rain which makes it difficult for the villagers to pay the Lagaan(Tax) to the government & this year the tax was doubled. Captain Russell is in the incharge of this area where Champaner is also a part of it. In start when Capt Russel is doing hunting in the jungle Aamir is hiding in distracting the animal just at the time Russell was taking aim to bring it down sue to which the animal use to run away. But Aamir is caught doing this and he gets in the eye of Capt Russell. Now all the villagers decides to go to the king of their province and request him to way of the Lagaan for this year as they have nothing. But King at that time is at the ground where British officials are playing Cricket.

So the villagers go there to meet him, so they to sit by the ground and wait for their King as he is watching the match. So when the match gets over they meet the King and tell them about their problem of they wont be able to pay the tax. King conveys the message to Captain Russell, and the villagers while seating make fun of cricket.

Capt russell already had met Bhuvan so he gives them a challenge in which they will have to play cricket against his team and beat him in a 3day cricket match. If they do so he will way off the tax for them. But the villagers were not ready as they knew they will loose it, then would have to pay the tax three times more.

So Russell increases the bet and tell them that wont pay the tax for another 3years if they won the match. Bhuvan excepts the challenge & the match is set o take place after 3months from that day.

Now all the villagers are angry on Bhuvan as why he excepted the challenge as they knew they wont won the game as they dont know anything about it. But Bhuvan tell them was there any option, because as it is they have to pay double tax and they dont have anything here atleast they have a chance if they win the match they wont have to pay the tax for another 3 years.

But no one is ready to be a part of Bhuvans team, but he gradually start to make the team & he believes in himself that he can win the game if they all give their 100 %. Now comes Elizabeth she is sister of Captain Russell and she feels that this deal is unfair, so she decides that she will till teach Bhuvan and his team how to play cricket, what are the rules & every other thing. Seeing this Bhuvan is really happy & his confidence goes to next level. there are lot off difficulties for Bhuvan to prepare his team. Lakha is against Bhuvan since childhood & is Jealous of him, and seeing that Elizabeth is helping them he complains this to Capt Russell thinking that his tax would be way off but Capt Russell tell him to join Bhuvan's team and play for him as his man in his team. So now they practise & prepare for the match.

What happens now is you too find out what happens, will they win the match? What happens with Lakha? Is Elizabeth able to teach them? etc.

Music :

Music for this movie is given by legendary A R Rahman, again he has delivered a Master Piece, the back ground score is brilliant.
Lyrics given by Legendary Javed Akhtar, Songs like

Mitwa - which is picturised when he starts building up his team is brilliant.
Radha Kaise na jale : Is during the festival time which is gaing a very good song.
And all other songs are brilliant and goes with the story of the movie very well

My Analysis :

Well the movie has every thing in it to keep you to your seat for almost 4 hours. This movie is a long movie but it justifies the time after watching it and its worth your time. The art direction & cinematography is brilliant. the way they created the look of champaner village is brilliant.

Some scenes are really good when Aamir is making up the team, the difficulties that he goes through and the trust that he have to built in everyone that they can make it and win this match is been shown brilliantly. The overall look of the movie, the screenplay is brilliant. The time Bhuvan speaks with Elizabeth & the way she speaks Hindi is also good.

Capt Russell Hindi speaking is really very good. Kachra is one guy for whom you have to look out for, the character of he plays and important part in the movie.

All the characters in the movie has done their job to perfection.

Aamir khan is very convincing. The way he in acted the role of Bhuvan is very good.
Gracy singh as a new comer has done a good job.

But full marks goes to Ashutosh Gowariker for the direction of this movie and the concept & story of it. he says that its a true story that took place in 1893. So he has done quite good research on this subject. The way everything he has taken care off for this movie is to look out for.
His latest releases Swades & Jogha Akbar are also brilliant movies which if you get a chance dont miss them.

This movie was nominated for best International film in Academy awards. And has won many other awards. so this movie is worth watching dont miss it.

You can get this movie almost everywhere from Amzaon, play etc at a price of £7-8. Its also available in 16 different subtitles which makes wide selection and can be viewed by many people.

This review is also on Ciao under the same User name....

Summary: A Movie worth watching