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Cast:Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne
Director: Ashutosh Gowarikar
Just when you thought the Bollywood film industry was unable to break out of its self-imposed shell of romance and action movies, it turns around and produces Lagaan (Tax). This new movie provides a refreshing portrayal of rustic villagers as protagonists who stand up to the might of British imperialism.
Lagaan is set in colonial India in 1893, when south Asia was considered the crown jewel in Britain's expanding domain - an empire on which the sun never sets. The movie opens in Champaner, a small Central Indian hamlet that is part of a princely state, which is nevertheless indirectly controlled by the British. The villagers pay lagaan, or tax, to the powerless king, who in turn fills the coffers of the British treasury.
The villagers are a motley crew of characters; including a potter, a blacksmith and an astrologer - not dissimilar to those that might be found in a classic Indian play. The main character, Bhuvan (Amir Khan), is a peasant whose wildlife activism brings him into direct confrontation with the area's hunting obsessed British cantonment commander, Russell (Paul Black).
However, when a drought hits the village, Bhuvan's activism turns to the plight of the hapless villagers who decide to go to their king and ask him to waive the lagaan for that year. When they arrive at the palace grounds, they are asked to wait as the British officers are engaged in a game of cricket.
Cricket, which is a mystery to the villagers, attracts their wild enthusiasm. Even simple aspects of the game captivate them, and when the umpire raises his finger to indicate that a batsman is out, the villagers wonder what's up in the air.
As the villagers wait, a stray ball is hit in Bhuvan's direction. Naturally he catches it. However, Russell is not happy to see Bhuvan and rebukes him, initiating a scuffle between the two. After the two are separated and the villagers are able to ask for the tax waiver, Russell throws a challenge to Bhuvan: If the villagers beat the British in the game of cricket, the tax for their entire region will be waived for three years. However, if the villagers lose they'll have to pay triple the tax.
The villagers are caught in a dilemma, as none of them know anything about cricket. Despite the villager's objections, Bhuvan accepts the challenge.
Initially Bhuvan has only three supporters who hide in the bushes to observe the British style of play and learn from them. As they are watching the game, they get an unlikely offer of help from Russell's sister Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley). She secretly visits the villagers and teaches them the finer points of the sport. Soon the reluctant villagers begin joining the team in droves, resulting in a diverse squad that includes a Hindu, a Muslim, a Sikh, a Dalit (low caste) and even a Christian supporter on the sidelines.
Russell learns of his sister's activities after a villager, envious of Bhuvan, reports her. Russell orders this villager to spy on Bhuvan and bars his sister from visiting the village, despite her protests.
Finally on the day of showdown, the British bat first and score an impressive number, which the villagers must beat. However, despite their best efforts, the villagers struggle to contain the seasoned Brits.
But, the tide eventually turns. A Muslim villager by the name of Ismayeel, despite having a broken leg, heroically manages to bat when the umpires allow him to use his son Tipu as the runner. Inspired, the villagers rally and in the end only Bhuvan and another villager are left to predictably pull off a victory - which they do, thus reducing Russell's plans to dust. The villager's tax is forgiven as the drought ends on the day of their win. Russell is humiliatingly transferred to an inhospitable base in Africa and Elizabeth returns to Britain.
Lagaan is a rustic flick in the class of early Bollywood movies like: Mother India and Ganga Jumna. It is a feel-good patriotic movie, which avoids the now ubiquitous commercialism of the movie industry. For those unacquainted with Hindi or Urdu, the movie does come with English subtitles. Muslims need to be wary, however, of its romantic and Hindu songs. The length of the movie is also a tiresome 3 hrs and 40 minutes.
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