''Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India'' () is a 2001 Indian
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
-language
sports drama film written and directed by
Ashutosh Gowariker. The film was produced by
Aamir Khan
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Hindi films. Through his career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian ci ...
, who stars alongside debutant
Gracy Singh
Gracy Singh (born 20 July 1980) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. She is best known for her role in the films ''Lagaan'' and '' Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' ''Singh'' is also a trained Bharatnatyam and Odissi dancer.
Career
Bo ...
and British actors
Rachel Shelley
Rachel Shelley (born 25 August 1969) is an English actress and model. She is best known for playing Helena Peabody in the Showtime series ''The L Word'' and Elizabeth Russell in the Oscar-nominated Bollywood epic ''Lagaan''.
Early life
Rachel ...
and
Paul Blackthorne
Paul Blackthorne (born 5 March 1969) is an English actor. Although born in Shropshire, he spent his early childhood on UK military bases in Britain and Germany.
Blackthorne broke into acting via television commercials in England. His breakthr ...
. Set in 1893, during the late
Victorian period of India's colonial
British Raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was him ...
, the film follows the inhabitants of a village in Central India, who, burdened by high taxes and several years of drought, are challenged by an arrogant
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which cou ...
officer to a game of
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...
as a wager to avoid paying the taxes they owe. The villagers face the arduous task of learning a game that is alien to them and play for a victory.
Produced on a budget of , ''Lagaan'' was the
most expensive Indian film at the time of its release. It faced multiple challenges during production: Khan was initially skeptical to star in a sports film, and later, prospective producers called for budget cuts and script modifications. Eventually, the film would become the maiden project of Aamir Khan Productions, and mark Khan's foray into film production. Gowariker was inspired by aspects of the sports drama ''
Naya Daur'' (1957) in developing the film. The language featured in the film was based on
Awadhi
Awadhi (; ), also known as Audhi (), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in northern India and Nepal. It is primarily spoken in the Awadh region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. The name ''Awadh'' is connected to Ayodhya, the ancient city ...
, but was diluted with standard Hindi for modern audiences. Principal photography took place in villages near
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
.
Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Nitin Chandrakant Desai is a noted Indian art director and production designer of Indian cinema turned film and television producer, most known for his work in Marathi and Hindi Films, World Cultural Festival 2016 at Delhi and films like, ''Hum ...
served as art director, while
Bhanu Athaiya was the costume designer. The original soundtrack was composed by
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...
, with lyrics written by
Javed Akhtar
Javed Akhtar (born 17 January 1945) is an Indian poet, lyricist, screenwriter and political activist. Known for his work in Hindi cinema, he has won five National Film Awards, and received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2 ...
.
''Lagaan'' was theatrically released in India on 15 June 2001, clashing with ''
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha''. It received critical acclaim for Gowariker's direction, Khan's performance and the film's
anti-imperialist stance. With earnings of during its initial release, the film was the third
highest-grossing Hindi film of 2001. ''Lagaan'' was screened at numerous international film festivals and garnered multiple accolades. It was the third Indian film to be nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...
after ''
Mother India'' (1957) and ''
Salaam Bombay!'' (1988). ''Lagaan'' became the most-awarded film at the
47th Filmfare Awards
The 47th Filmfare Awards were held on 16 February 2002 in Mumbai, India.
'' Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...'' led the ceremony with 16 nominations, followed by ''Dil Chahta Hai'' with 13 nominations, and ''Lagaan'' and '' Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'' wit ...
with eight wins, including
Best Film
This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards.
Best Actor/Best Actress
*See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
,
Best Director for Gowariker and
Best Actor
Best Actor is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actors in a film, television series, television film or play.
The term most often refers to the ...
for Khan. At the
49th National Film Awards
The 49th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 2001. Awards were announced by t ...
, the film won eight awards, including
Best Popular Film.
Plot
In 1893, the villagers of drought-stricken Champaner await meeting their
Raja
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested ...
outside the
British cantonment
A cantonment (, , or ) is a military quarters. In Bangladesh, India and other parts of South Asia, a ''cantonment'' refers to a permanent military station (a term from the British India, colonial-era). In military of the United States, United Stat ...
grounds. They want to ask for an exemption from tax (''lagaan'') but the Raja is busy watching the British play a match of
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...
. A young farmer named Bhuvan incites laughter by mocking the game. This is overheard by the sadistic company captain, Andrew Russell, who feels slighted. He challenges Bhuvan to a game of cricket in return for cancelling their tax for three years, a bet that Bhuvan accepts.
Despite protests from the village, Bhuvan gathers a few who support him, and together, they crouch outside the cantonment grounds trying to understand the game. Elizabeth, Captain Russell's visiting younger sister, approaches them, offering to help. She wants to teach them the game so that the match is played fairly. Bhuvan is delighted, and the group starts meeting Elizabeth at grounds outside the village to learn the game. Word spreads in the village and others are inspired to join Bhuvan's team.
When Captain Russell finds out, he is incensed at Elizabeth. She refuses to stop helping the villagers, hiding the fact that she is secretly falling in love with Bhuvan. Gauri, the daughter of the town physician, Ishwar, knows all this and is heartbroken because she is the one in love with Bhuvan. Bhuvan later proposes to Gauri. Meanwhile, Captain Russell is told by his senior officers to prepare to pay the province's taxes out of his own pocket should he lose the match. Back in the village, Bhuvan is struggling to find an eleventh player. At a practice game, he fields a ball that is returned to him by Kachra, a cripple who lives outside the village. As the ball bounces, the
spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally ...
carries it in another direction. Bhuvan immediately sees value and adds Kachra to the team. He resists pressure again from the villagers, who are concerned over playing with an
untouchable
Untouchable or The Untouchable may refer to:
People
* Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status
** A word for the Dalits or Scheduled Caste of India, a group that experiences untouchability
* ...
, and manages to convince them.
On the day of the match, the British bat first and score heftily, Captain Russell hitting a
century
A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
A centennial or ...
, even though Smith was runout by Bhura and Goli bowled out Burton. On that day night, the villagers found out that Lakha was secretly working for the Britishers and were about to kill him but Bhuvan denied so. Lakha redeems himself on the next day of the match by taking a diving catch to dismiss Brooks. Kachra claimed a hattrick dismissing Wesson, North and Flynn. Guran got the wicket of Harisson, Kachra using his spin again dismissed Benson. The turning point of that innings came when Russell was caught out by Arjan, bowled by Bhuvan. And so at the end, Deva bowled out Yardley making the Britishers all out for 322.
When Bhuvan's team starts batting, Bhuvan and Deva make a steady partnership but as Deva became runout, Arjan, Lakha, Bagha became out cheaply with Ismail getting injured and soon half the team is out. Facing defeat, Bhuvan bats steadily and is aided by Ishwar, Guran and later Ismail, who was then runout in the third last over of the match. With five runs needed, Bhuvan hits
six runs
In cricket, the boundary is the perimeter of a playing field. It is also the term given to a scoring shot where the ball is hit to, or beyond, that perimeter, which generally earns four or six runs for the batting team.
Edge of the field
The b ...
off the last ball, even with an injury given by Yardley, who had bowled that last over, in very dramatic fashion, and wins the match for the villagers. As the crowd erupts in celebration and the British applaud the team's victory, Elizabeth seeks out Bhuvan but turns away when she sees him locked in an embrace with Gauri—the girl Bhuvan loved. In that very moment, suddenly dark clouds appear in the sky and it starts raining, which is welcomed by overjoyed villagers who have been waiting for the drought to be over that lasted several years.
Soon, the British cantonment is disbanded and Captain Russell is transferred to Africa. In the following weeks, the villagers watch the departing procession as one caravan stops in front of Bhuvan. Elizabeth steps out to say a final farewell to him. She returns to England, carrying an
unrequited love
Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer's deep and pure affection, or may consciously reject it. The Merriam Webster Online Dict ...
for Bhuvan with her. Meanwhile, the farmers of the village revel in the newly invigorated monsoon. As rain pours down over Champaner, they look ahead to three prosperous years without any taxation. (In Narration) - Bhuvan and Gauri are soon married and the King of the region himself comes to give his blessings. Despite that epic victory, Bhuvan's name is lost in the pages of history.
Cast
*
Aamir Khan
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Hindi films. Through his career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian ci ...
as Bhuvan Latha (captain and all-rounder)
*
Gracy Singh
Gracy Singh (born 20 July 1980) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. She is best known for her role in the films ''Lagaan'' and '' Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' ''Singh'' is also a trained Bharatnatyam and Odissi dancer.
Career
Bo ...
as Gauri
*
Rachel Shelley
Rachel Shelley (born 25 August 1969) is an English actress and model. She is best known for playing Helena Peabody in the Showtime series ''The L Word'' and Elizabeth Russell in the Oscar-nominated Bollywood epic ''Lagaan''.
Early life
Rachel ...
as Elizabeth Russell
*
Paul Blackthorne
Paul Blackthorne (born 5 March 1969) is an English actor. Although born in Shropshire, he spent his early childhood on UK military bases in Britain and Germany.
Blackthorne broke into acting via television commercials in England. His breakthr ...
as Captain Andrew Russell
*
Suhasini Mulay
Suhasini Mulay (born 20 November 1950) is an Indian actress in Assamese, Bollywood and Marathi films as well as television. She won National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1999, for her performance in Gulzar's film '' Hu Tu Tu'' ...
as Yashoda Maa, Bhuvan's mother
*
Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Raja Puran Singh Chawla
*
Rajendra Gupta as Mukhiya Ji
*
Raghubir Yadav as Bhura (fielder)
*
Rajesh Vivek
Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay (31 January 1949 – 14 January 2016) was an Indian actor. He is best known to Hindi film audiences for his role as the astrologer Guran in '' Lagaan'' (2001) and as the postmaster Nivaran in '' Swades'' (2004). He had ...
as Guran (all-rounder)
*
Raj Zutshi as Ismail (batsman)
*
Pradeep Rawat as Deva Singh Sodhi (all-rounder)
*
Akhilendra Mishra as Arjan (batsman), the blacksmith
*
Daya Shankar Pandey as Goli (seamer), the man with the largest piece of land
*
Shrivallabh Vyas
Shri Vallabh Vyas was an Indian film and television actor. He was known for films including ''Sarfarosh'' (1999), ''Lagaan'' (2001), '' Abhay'' (2001), '' Aan: Men at Work'' (2004), '' Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero'' (2005), '' ...
as Ishwar (wicket-keeper), the ''vaidya'' (doctor) in the village and Gauri's father
*
Yashpal Sharma as Lakha (batsman), the woodcutter
* Amin Hajee as Bagha (batsman), the mute drummer
*
Aditya Lakhia
Aditya Lakhia is an Indian character actor. He did his schooling from Mayo College, Ajmer. He began his acting career in 1988 playing small roles and worked as an assistant director in ''Akele Hum Akele Tum''. The character of Kachra in the movie ...
as Kachra (spinner)
*
Javed Khan as Ram Singh, Indian who works with British and helps Elizabeth in translating villagers language
*
A. K. Hangal
Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012) was an Indian freedom fighter from 1929 to 1947 and also stage actor from 1936 to 1965 and later became a character actor in Hindi language films from 1966 to 2005. His most notable role ...
as Shambu Kaka
*
Amin Gazi
Amin Gazi is an Indian Actor. He was seen in 2001 Film Lagaan and 2003 Comedy Film Hungama Hungama may refer to:
* ''Hungama'' (1971 film), a Bollywood comedy film
* ''Hungama'' (2003 film), a Bollywood comedy
* ''Hungama'' (2005 film), a T ...
as Tipu
*
John Rowe as Colonel Boyer
*
David Gant as Major Warren
* Thor Halland as Captain Roberts
*
Jeremy Child as Major Cotton
*
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
as Narrator
*
Chris England
Chris England (born 20 January 1961) is an English writer and actor. He is best known for the comedy play ''An Evening with Gary Lineker'', which he wrote with Arthur Smith (comedian), Arthur Smith, and the book ''Balham to Bollywood''.
Early l ...
as Lt Yardley, an English fast bowler. England also wrote a book about his experience making the film titled
Balham to Bollywood'
* Howard Lee as Lt Burton, English wicketkeeper batsman
* Ben Nealon as Lt Patrick Smith, Deputy and English all-rounder
* Simon Holmes as Lt Brookes, an English batsman
* Ray Eves as Lt Willis, an English fast bowler
* Jon House as Lt North, an English batsman
* Neil Patrick as Lt Harrisson, an English all-rounder
* Jamie Whitby Coles as Lt Wesson, an English all-rounder
* Barry Hart as Lt Benson, an English spinner
* Alex Shirtclliff as Lt Flynn, an English batsman
Production
Development
''Lagaan'' was inspired by ''
Naya Daur'' (1957), a
sports drama
A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport, sporting event, athlete (and their sport), or follower of sport (and the sp ...
film directed by
B. R. Chopra, written by
Akhtar Mirza
Akhtar Mirza was an Indian screenwriter and director for Bollywood films. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Story, for the 1965 film '' Waqt''. He is the father of National Award-winning director Saeed Akhtar Mirza and the commercially success ...
and Kamil Rashid, and starring
Dilip Kumar
Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from ...
,
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1936) is a former Indian actress, dancer and parliamentarian. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two BFJA Awards and five Filmfare Awards. She made her screen debut at the age of thirteen with ...
and
Ajit Khan
Hamid Ali Khan (27 January 1922 – 22 October 1998), better known by his stage name Ajit, was an Indian actor active in Hindi films. He acted in over two hundred movies over almost four decades. Ajit is also credited for starring as a lead a ...
.
Director Gowariker has stated that it was almost impossible to make ''Lagaan''. He went to Khan, who agreed to participate after hearing the detailed script. Khan had initially rejected the idea of a "sporty" film, but was "himself in tears" upon hearing the full dialogued script.
Even after securing Khan, Gowariker had trouble finding a producer. Producers who showed interest in the script wanted budget cuts as well as script modifications. Eventually, Khan agreed to Gowariker's suggestion that he would produce the film. Khan corroborated this by saying that the faith he had in Gowariker, the story and script of the film,
and the opportunity of starting his own production company inspired him to produce ''Lagaan''.
He also said that by being a producer himself, he was able to give greater creative freedom to Gowariker. He cited an example:
"If the director tells the producer that he wants 50 camels, the latter will probably say, 'Why not 25? Can't you manage with 25 camels?' Whereas, if he is telling me the same thing... I will not waste time asking him questions because I am also creatively aware why he needs them."
Jhamu Sughand
Jhamu Sughand (1951 – 26 May 2008) was an Indian film financier, producer and distributor, in mainstream Bollywood, as well parallel cinema. He is most known as producer of Academy Award-nominated ''Lagaan'' (2001), '' Satya'' (1998), ''Hum Dil ...
co-produced the film because he liked the emotional and patriotic story.
''Lagaan'' was made on a
then-unprecedented budget of (), the highest for an Indian film of the time.
Casting
Gowariker first thought of having
Shah Rukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
,
Bobby Deol
Vijay Singh Deol (born 27 January 1967) popularly known as Bobby Deol, is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema and web series. A member of the List of Hindi film families#Deol family, Deol family, he is the younger son of veteran actor Dhar ...
,
Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan (; born 10 January 1974) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. He has portrayed a variety of characters and is known for his dancing skills. One of the highest-paid actors in India, he has won many awards, including six ...
and
Abhishek Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan (born 5 February 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Hindi films. Part of the Bachchan family, he is the son of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and the grandson of poet Harivansh Rai Bach ...
for the role of Bhuvan. After Bachchan chose to enter cinema with
J. P. Dutta
Jyoti Prakash Dutta (born 3 October 1949) is an Indian Bollywood film producer, writer and director, best known for making patriotic action war films.
Personal life
Dutta is married to the Bollywood film actress Bindiya Goswami with whom he has ...
's ''
Refugee
A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution. '' (2000), Khan was approached with the idea.
Several actresses had offered to act in the film, but Khan needed someone who matched the description of the character given in the script. After considering
Rani Mukerji
Rani Mukerji (pronounced ; born 21 March 1978) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Noted for her versatility, she is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Rani Mukerji, multiple accolades, including seven Filmf ...
who did not have dates to accommodate the film,
Sonali Bendre
Sonali Bendre (born 1 January 1975) is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. She did modelling assignments prior to making her acting debut with '' Aag'' (1994), which won her the Filmfare Award for Ne ...
,
Nandita Das
Nandita Das (born 7 November 1969) is an Indian actress and director. She has acted in over 40 feature films in ten different languages. Das appeared in the films ''Fire'' (1996), ''Earth'' (1998), '' Bawandar'' (2000), '' Kannathil Muthamittal' ...
,
Shamita Shetty
Shamita Shetty (born 2 February 1979) is an Indian Bollywood actress, model and interior designer. She made her Hindi film debut in the musical romance film '' Mohabbatein'' (2000), which earned her the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – ...
and
Ameesha Patel were approached for the role,
Gowariker selected Singh for the female lead because he was convinced that she was a good actress and dancer and resembled actress
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1936) is a former Indian actress, dancer and parliamentarian. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two BFJA Awards and five Filmfare Awards. She made her screen debut at the age of thirteen with ...
. Singh, a newcomer, devoted all her time to the film.
Since the script also demanded a British cast, Gowariker and Khan hired Danielle Roffe as one of the
casting directors
Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. The solidified part is also known as a ''casting'', which is ejected ...
. After Danielle and Gowariker screen-tested many, Shelley and Blackthorne were chosen for the prime roles. Overall, the film cast 15 foreign actors.
Raghubir Yadav played the role of the legendary
Haji Nasruddin in the teleplay ''Mullah Nasiruddin'' and has given many memorable performances such as ''
Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne
''Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne'' is an Indian television series directed by Prakash Jha that revolved around the life of Mungerilal, played by Raghubir Yadav. The serial was conceptualised by Neeraj Kumar (police officer) who also gave it its icon ...
''. Yadav was selected for the role of Bhura, a poultry farmer, based on his performance in ''
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
'' (1998). He had undergone an
appendectomy
An appendectomy, also termed appendicectomy, is a Surgery, surgical operation in which the vermiform appendix (a portion of the intestine) is removed. Appendectomy is normally performed as an urgent or emergency procedure to treat complicated acu ...
operation in-between the filming schedule and returned to complete some of his scenes.
Rajesh Vivek
Rajesh Vivek Upadhyay (31 January 1949 – 14 January 2016) was an Indian actor. He is best known to Hindi film audiences for his role as the astrologer Guran in '' Lagaan'' (2001) and as the postmaster Nivaran in '' Swades'' (2004). He had ...
, who played the fortune teller Guran, was spotted by Gowariker in the film ''
Junoon'' (1978). His liking for cricket helped him in his role.
Raj Zutshi friendship with Khan and association in several films brought him the role of Ismail the potter after auditions.
Pradeep Rawat's association with Khan in ''
Sarfarosh
''Sarfarosh'' () is a 1999 Indian action drama film written, produced and directed by John Matthew Matthan and starring Aamir Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Sonali Bendre and Mukesh Rishi. John started working on ''Sarfarosh'' in 1992. Seven years ...
'' (1999) brought him the role of Deva, a
Sikh
Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
ex-
sepoy, which was initially intended for
Mukesh Rishi
Mukesh Rishi (born 19 April 1956) is an Indian actor and film producer who works primarily in Hindi and Telugu films. He has also appeared in Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi and Tamil films. He got his first break in Hindi in 1988 and has ...
. Rawat claimed that it was the highest ever compensation he received in his career.
Daya Shankar Pandey, who preferred the role of Kachra, was known to Khan and Gowariker through previous films (''
Pehla Nasha
''Pehla Nasha'' () is a 1993 Indian Hindi-language thriller film and the debut film of director Ashutosh Gowariker. The movie is a remake of Brian de Palma's 1984 thriller ''Body Double''. Deepak Tijori plays the lead role alongside Pooja Bhatt ...
'' (1993), ''
Baazi'' (1995) and ''
Ghulam
Ghulam ( ar, غلام, ) is an Arabic word meaning ''servant'', ''assistant'', ''boy'', or ''youth''. It is used to describe young servants in paradise. It is also used to refer to slave-soldiers in the Abbasid, Ottoman, Safavid and to a lesser ...
'' (1998)). Pandey credited Gowariker for his acting in the film as Goli, saying that Gowariker and he would discuss the required emotions and expressions before shooting.
Yashpal Sharma was chosen by Gowariker for the role of Lakha, the woodcutter, after his portrayal in ''
Samar
Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...
'' (1999). He said it was a good experience working with Khan and Gowariker during the film. Amin Hajee earlier worked in a film with Gowariker. The friendly association brought Gowariker to him with the script, which he liked, and thereafter he successfully auditioned for his role of Bagha, a mute drummer. His knowledge of mute people and some assistance from a music band helped him better prepare for his role. Gowariker, who believed that Amin was like
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Enzio Stallone (; born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, ) is an American actor and filmmaker. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, h ...
, would refer to him as Stallone during filming.
Aditya Lakhia
Aditya Lakhia is an Indian character actor. He did his schooling from Mayo College, Ajmer. He began his acting career in 1988 playing small roles and worked as an assistant director in ''Akele Hum Akele Tum''. The character of Kachra in the movie ...
's association with Gowariker in ''
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
''Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa'' () is a 1994 Hindi-language coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Kundan Shah, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepak Tijori. It also featured Suchitra Krishnamurthy (in her Hindi film debut) and Naseeruddin Shah. ...
'' (1993) and ''Pehla Nasha'' (1993) brought him the role of Kachra, the untouchable. He read the book ''
Everybody Loves a Good Drought
''Everybody Loves a Good Drought'' is a book, by P. Sainath, about his research findings of poverty in the rural districts of India. The book won him the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Sainath wrote the book by combining 84 articles that he had written ...
'' by
P. Sainath to better understand and portray his character.
Pre-production
One of the first members to join the production team was
Nitin Chandrakant Desai
Nitin Chandrakant Desai is a noted Indian art director and production designer of Indian cinema turned film and television producer, most known for his work in Marathi and Hindi Films, World Cultural Festival 2016 at Delhi and films like, ''Hum ...
, the art director, with whom Gowariker set out for extensive location hunt throughout India, to find the setting for the fictional town of Champaner, in late 1998. After searching through Rajasthan, Nasik, UP, they zeroed in on an ancient village near
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
, located in
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
's
Kutch district, by May 1999, where the film was primarily shot.
The script demanded a dry location: an agricultural village where it had not rained in several years. To depict the 1890s era, the crew also required a village which lacked electricity, communication and automobiles.
Kutch faced the same problems at that time and hence the village of Kunariya, located a few miles away from Bhuj, was chosen. During the filming of ''Lagaan'', it did not rain at all in the region. However, a week after the shoot finished, it rained heavily bringing relief to Bhuj, which had a lean monsoon the previous year.
The typical old Kutch hamlet was built by the local people four months before the arrival of the crew.
The
2001 Gujarat earthquake devastated this region and displaced many locals. The crew, including the English, contributed to their cause by donating , with further contributions during the year.
Avadhi
Awadhi (; ), also known as Audhi (), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in northern India and Nepal. It is primarily spoken in the Awadh region of present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. The name ''Awadh'' is connected to Ayodhya, the ancient city, ...
, which is a
dialect
The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of Linguistics, linguistic phenomena:
One usage refers to a variety (linguisti ...
of
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
, is primarily from a region in
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
. It was chosen to give the feel of the language spoken during that era. However, the language was diluted, and modern viewers can understand it.
The dialogues, which were a combination of three dialects (Avadhi,
Bhojpuri
Bhojpuri (;[Bhojpuri entry, Oxford Dictionaries](_blank)
, Oxford U ...
and
Braj Bhasha
The Braj language, ''Braj Bhasha'', also known as Vraj Bhasha or Vrij Bhasha or Braj Bhāṣā or Braji or Brij Bhasha or Braj Boli, is a Western Hindi language. Along with Awadhi (a variety of Eastern Hindi), it was one of the two predominant ...
) were penned by Hindi writer
K. P. Saxena.
Bhanu Athaiya, who won an
Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People
* Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms.
* Oscar (Irish mythology) ...
for her work in ''
Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...
'' (1982), was the
costume designer
A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television show. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costume ...
for the film. With a large number of extras, it was difficult for her to make enough costumes. She spent a lot of time researching to lend authenticity to the characters.
Filming
The film took approximately a year to plan, which included ten months for production and one month for the development of Khan's character, which the first-time producer found tiring. Khan obtained a crew of about 300 people for six months. Due to the lack of comfortable hotels in Bhuj, he hired a newly constructed apartment and furnished it completely for the crew. Security was set up and a special housekeeping team was brought to take care of the crew's needs.
Most of the 19th century tools and equipment depicted in the film were lent to the crew by the local villagers. Initially, they did not want to part with their equipment, but after much coaxing, they gave in. They then travelled to different parts of the country to collect the musical instruments used in that day and era.
During the shooting, Gowariker suffered from a
slipped disc
Spinal disc herniation is an injury to the cushioning and connective tissue between vertebrae, usually caused by excessive strain or trauma to the spine. It may result in back pain, pain or sensation in different parts of the body, and physic ...
and had to rest for 30 days. During this period, he had his bed next to the monitor and continued with his work.
The filming schedule spanned the winter and summer, commencing in early January and finishing in mid-June. This was physically challenging for many, with the temperatures ranging from .
The actors had to drink frequently and sit in the shade.
The schedule was strict. The day began at 6 am, changing into costumes and getting onto the actors' bus, which took them to the sets in Kanuria. The actors, including Khan, all travelled on the same bus. If anyone missed it, it was up to them to reach the sets. One day, Khan was late and missed the actors' bus. That day, his wife Reena, the executive producer, reprimanded him for being late. She told him he had to set an example for the rest of the crew. "If he started coming late, how could she tell the others to come on time?"
While on the sets, the actors were given call sheets with the day's timetable such as breakfast, hairstyling, make-up, costumes, etc.
Music
Release
Before its worldwide release, Khan kept a promise to screen the film to the locals of
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
. ''Lagaan'' clashed with
Anil Sharma's ''
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'', starring
Sunny Deol
Ajay Singh Deol (born 19 October 1956), better known by his stage name Sunny Deol, is an Indian actor, film director, producer, politician and current Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur (Lok Sabha constituency) of Punjab, India. As an actor, ...
and
Ameesha Patel, at the box-office. The film made it to the UK Top 10 after its commercial release. It was the first Indian film to have a nationwide release in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
and had its dubbed version released in Italy.
With favorable reviews from the French press, ''Lagaan'' premiered in Paris on 26 June 2002 and continued to have an unprecedented nine weeks of screening with over 45,000 people watching. It was released in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa and the Middle East with respective
vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...
subtitles.
The film took a cumulative of $2.5 million at the international box-office and at the domestic box-office.
In 2001, ''Lagaan'' had a world premiere at the
International Indian Film Academy Awards
The International Indian Film Academy Awards, popularly known as IIFA, is an annual awards ceremony for Bollywood. Produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the winners of the awards are decided by fans, who vote online for th ...
(IIFA) weekend in
Sun City, South Africa. The
Locarno International Film Festival
The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, sh ...
authorities published the rules of cricket before the film was screened to a crowd which reportedly danced to its soundtrack in the aisles. ''Lagaan'' was shown 4 times due to public demand as against the usual norm of showcasing films once at the festival.
It subsequently won the Prix du Public Award at the festival. After the film's publicity in Locarno, the director, Gowariker said that distributors from Switzerland, Italy, France, Netherlands, North Africa, Finland and Germany were wanting to purchase the distribution rights.
Special screenings were held in Russia, where people were keen to watch the film after its Oscar nomination.
Apart from these screenings, it was shown at the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
,
Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival ( ar, مهرجان القاهرة السينمائي الدولي) is an annual internationally accredited film festival held in Cairo Opera House. It was established in 1976 and has taken place every year si ...
,
Stockholm International Film Festival,
Helsinki Film Festival The Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy ( fi, Rakkautta & Anarkiaa) is a non-competitive film festival held since 1988 in Helsinki, Finland, yearly in September. The festival promotes the artistry of filmmaking, the inventive, vi ...
and the
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...
. The film is available on
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
.
Home media
There were two releases for the DVD. The first, as a 2-DVD set, was released on 27 May 2002 in limited regions. It contained subtitles in
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Turkish and several European languages. It is available in 16:9 Anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, progressive 24 frame/s, widescreen and NTSC format. It carried an additional fifteen minutes of deleted scenes, filmographies and trailers.
The second was released as anniversary edition 3-disc DVD box after 6 years of the theatrical release. This also included ''Chale Chalo'' which was a documentary on the making of ''Lagaan'', a curtain-raiser on the making of the soundtrack, deleted scenes, trailers, along with other collectibles such as 11 collector cards, a collectible ''Lagaan'' coin embossed with the character of ''Bhuvan'', a 35 mm
CinemaScope filmstrip hand-cut from the film's filmstrip were bundled with the film.
After its release, it became the highest-selling DVD in India, beating ''
Sholay
''Sholay'' (, ) is a 1975 Indian Hindi-language action-adventure film directed by Ramesh Sippy, produced by his father G. P. Sippy, and written by Salim–Javed. The film is about two criminals, Veeru (Dharmendra) and Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), ...
'' (1975). ''Chale Chalo – The Lunacy of Film Making'', won the
National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film
The National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals
The Directorate of Film Festivals in India was an organisation that initiated and present ...
.
A comic book, ''Lagaan: The Story'', along with 2 colouring books, a mask book and a cricket
board game
Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well.
Many board games feature a comp ...
were subsequently released to the commercial market. The comic book, available in English and Hindi, was targeted at children between the ages of 6 and 14. At the book's launch, Aamir Khan said that they were keen to turn the film into a comic strip during the pre-production phase itself.
In March 2002, a book titled ''The Spirit of Lagaan – The Extraordinary Story of the Creators of a Classic'' was published. It covers the making of the film, describing in detail the setbacks and obstacles that the crew faced while developing the film from concept to its release.
Reception
Box office
The film initially grossed worldwide in 2001. This made it the third
highest-grossing Hindi film of 2001, behind ''
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...'' and ''
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha''.
Domestically, ''Lagaan'' grossed in India. Its domestic
net income
In business and accounting, net income (also total comprehensive income, net earnings, net profit, bottom line, sales profit, or credit sales) is an entity's income minus cost of goods sold, expenses, depreciation and amortization, interest, a ...
was , equivalent to () when adjusted for inflation.
With an overseas gross of 10.84 crore
(
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
2.2 million) in 2001, it was the year's second
highest-grossing Indian film overseas, preceded only by ''Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...''. ''Lagaan''s overseas gross included
£600,000 in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, US$910,000 in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, and US$180,000 in the
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf refers to a group of Arab states which border the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ...
.
In
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, where the film later released on 16 May 2003, it grossed
¥3million, equivalent to 1.71crore (US$362,500).
Including the film's China collections, the film's total worldwide gross was (). At a ticket inflation rate of 5.5 times in 2016,
the film's total gross is equivalent to approximately () when adjusted for inflation in 2016.
Critical reception
''Lagaan'' was met with critical acclaim.
Sudish Kamath of ''
The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
'' suggested that "the movie is not just a story. It is an experience. An experience of watching something that puts life into you, that puts a cheer on your face, however depressed you might be." ''
The Times of India
''The Times of India'', also known by its abbreviation ''TOI'', is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by The Times Group. It is the third-largest newspaper in India by circulation and largest ...
'' wrote, "''Lagaan'' has all the attractions of big-sounding
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...
songs, excellent performances by Aamir Khan... and a successful debut for pretty Gracy Singh. In addition, there is the celebrated
David vs. Goliath cricket match, which has the audiences screaming and clapping."
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...
, writing for the ''
Chicago Sun-Times
The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has the second largest circulation among Chicago newspapers, after the ''Chicago T ...
'', gave the film 3.5 out of 4 stars and wrote, "''Lagaan'' is an enormously entertaining movie, like nothing we've ever seen before, and yet completely familiar... At the same time, it's a memory of the films we all grew up on, with clearly-defined villains and heroes, a love-triangle, and even a comic character who saves the day. ''Lagaan'' is a well-crafted, hugely entertaining epic that has the spice of a foreign culture." Derek Elley of ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' suggested that it "could be the trigger for Bollywood's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets". Somni Sengupta of ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', described it as "a carnivalesque genre packed with romance, swordplay and improbable song-and-dance routines". Dave Kehr, another ''New York Times'' film critic, called ''Lagaan'' "a movie that knows its business -- pleasing a broad, popular audience -- and goes about it with savvy professionalism and genuine flair." Kevin Thomas of the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' argued that the film is "an affectionate homage to a popular genre that raises it to the level of an art film with fully drawn characters, a serious underlying theme, and a sophisticated style and point of view."
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw (born 19 June 1962) is a British writer and film critic. He has been chief film critic at ''The Guardian'' since 1999, and is a contributing editor at ''Esquire''.
Early life and education
Bradshaw was educated at Haberdashers ...
of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' described the film as "a lavish epic, a gorgeous love story, and a rollicking adventure yarn. Larger than life and outrageously enjoyable, it's got a dash of
Spaghetti Western
The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...
, a hint of
Kurosawa, with a bracing shot of
Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much o ...
." Kuljinder Singh of the ''
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
'' stated that "''Lagaan'' is anything but standard Bollywood fodder, and is the first must-see of the Indian summer. A movie that will have you laughing and crying, but leaving with a smile."
''Lagaan'' was listed as #14 on ''
''s "50 Films To See Before You Die" and was the only Indian film to be listed. The film was also well-received in China, where its themes resonated with Chinese audiences. It was ranked #55 in ''
'' magazine's "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010. In 2011, John Nugent of the ''Trenton Independent'' called the film "a masterpiece ... and what better way to learn a bit about India's colonial experience! History and great entertainment, all rolled into one (albeit long) classic film."
s. Khan said, "We just started showing it to whoever we could, even the hotel staff."
'' wrote, "A Bollywood film that portrays the British in India as ruthless sadists and Mafia-style crooks has been chosen as Delhi's official entry to the Academy Awards."
It added that the film was expected to win the nomination.
at the Academy Award nominations ceremony. After the nomination, Khan reacted by saying, "To see the name of the film and actually hear it being nominated was very satisfying". Post-nomination reactions poured in from several parts of the world. ''
, and India's ''Lagaan''".
praising it, ''Lagaan'' had a chance to win.
...