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 ... Read review
Champaner... a small farming village in Central India. The year is 1893. On the outskirts ... more
of the village stand a British cantonment, commanded by Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) - an arrogant and capricious man, who wields the power of life and deat...
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Advantages: Story, Performances, 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) ...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 ... more
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 Dooyoo under the same User name....
Advantages: great plot, superb choreography, magnificent scenery, well performed Disadvantages: long (but it is so good this isn't really a disadvantage)
...Rajah of the province a lagaan (tax), in return for protection and order. Every farmer must contribute to the tax, by parting with a large portion of their harvest, leaving the people hungry and unable to resist the iron grip of the system. We join the villagers in the midst of a long drought, the crops have failed for another year, and they are distraught. Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne), the dastardly leader of the British cantonment, challenges ... ...well.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lagaan was shot in Gujurat, and director Ashutosh Gowariker truly makes the most of the surroundings, incorporating many sweeping vistas of the magnificent landscape, complete with wonderful architectural forts and glorious sunsets. Everything is done on a grand scale, and succeeds in making the movie extremely visually exciting, which is enhanced even more by the beautifully choreographed dances.
The sets, from the Indian ...
VC81 20.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lagaan (Subtitled) (DVD)
Advantages: well acted, good story, catchy soundtrack, lots of detail, lovely setting Disadvantages: slightly predictable
...drought. They cannot pay their lagaan to their Rajah unless there is rain soon. The lagaan is a tax that the farmers must pay to their Rajah, who rules over the province. The Rajah in turn pays much of this to the British occupiers, who require the crops to feed their soldiers. When the Leader of the local British Garrison decides to double the lagaan, the villagers march up to protest. Bhuvan speaks his mind, and the Captain ends up giving him a ... ...will not have to pay lagaan for 3 years. If they lose, then next year they will pay _triple_ lagaan.
Bhuvan, being hotheaded and indignant, accepts the challenge. Unfortunately, the villagers don't even know what cricket is. The rest of the fist half of the film involves Bhuvan gathering a team for the cricket match and trying to teach them cricket. Luckily, help arrives in the form of Captain Russell's sister Elisabeth, who sympathises with the ...
iToast 03.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lagaan (Subtitled) (DVD)
Advantages: direction, screenplay, performance, music Disadvantages: nil
It is about the things that happen in the pre-independence era in India. The film is about the incidents that happen in a small village. The Britishers levy exorbitant tax and the people of the region express the same. Currently there has been drought and the peasants request that the tax be exempted. Entering into an argument, the whole situation ends up with a challenge between the villagers and the British to play a cricket match. If the villagers ... ...have to pay double. The rest of the film is about how these rookies prepare themselves of the challenge of their lifetime to challenge the professionals. The music is by A.R.Rahman who has done exceptionally well to score the background music. Also the songs in this film are very well composed. Not to forget the film was nominated for the Oscars in the foreign film category. This film is no documentary but a really good commercial film and an entertainer. ...
danalakshmivnv 28.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lagaan (Subtitled) (DVD)
Lagaan,one of the final nominees of the Foreign film category at the 2000 oscars,is one of the finest films you would come accross.Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and starring the perfectionist Aamir Khan,this film is an epic story by all means. The film hooks you from the starting where we come to know of there is lack of rain in the village,a village which depends on its crops for living.Set in 19th century when india was governed by the british,the ... ...form of crops.We experience the sufferings of the villagers who would not be able to pay the year’s taxes due to lack of crops. But this is no sad story,rather it is an uplifting film,a film which talks of human spirit,of friendship,of unity and of bravery.We see the villagers(who are very different from each other in terms of personality,caste.Kudos to the story writer to have so many distinct and original characters) coming together to achieve ...
aadnan613 02.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Lagaan (Subtitled) (DVD)
When the town of Champaner in India is hit by a terrible drought, the villagers get together to ask the authorities for a halt to their taxes which are called 'Lagaan'. Unfortunately for the locals, a decision is made to raise the taxes unless the villagers can beat the local army platoon at a game of cricket. The problem is no one in the village can play cricket...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Fifteen Minutes Of Deleted Scenes, Filmographies, Trailers
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
DVD Description
Considered to be a modern classic of Indian cinema, LAGAAN is a musical drama which tells the story of a central Indian farming village in 1893. The village waits for the monsoons to come and rain on its crops, but the ground remains dry and infertile. Meanwhile, British ruler Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) demands lagaan--or double normal taxes--from the villagers. When it becomes clear that they can't pay, Russell challenges the villagers to a game of cricket, a game they know nothing about. Teaching the villagers about the game falls on the shoulders of farmer Bhuvan (Aamir Khan). As they begin to learn, the villagers are inspired to go up against Russell, with tax negotiation as the stakes for the game. Full of choreographed musical numbers and climaxing in a pulse-pounding cricket match, LAGAAN is a fun, heartwarming British/Indian production that should have no difficulties translating across other national borders.
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