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Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

 -  Adventure | Drama | Musical  -  8 May 2002 (USA)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 24,025 users   Metascore: 84/100
Reviews: 220 user | 67 critic | 21 from Metacritic.com

The people of a small village in Victorian India stake their future on a game of cricket against their ruthless British rulers...

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(story), (screenplay), 3 more credits »
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Title: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 44 wins & 19 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Gracy Singh ...
...
...
Suhasini Mulay ...
Yashodamai
...
Rajah Puran Singh
Raghuvir Yadav ...
Bhura (as Raghuveer Yadav)
Rajendra Gupta ...
Mukhiya
Rajesh Vivek ...
Guran
Shri Vallabh Vyas ...
Ishwar (as Sri Vallabh Vyas)
Javed Khan ...
Ram Singh
...
Ismail (as Raj Zutshi)
Akhilendra Mishra ...
Arjan
Daya Shankar Pandey ...
Goli
Yashpal Sharma ...
Lakha
Edit

Storyline

This is the story about the resilience shown by the Indians when they were under the British Rule. They are already taxed to the bone by the British and their cronies, but when Jack Russell announces that he will double the Lagaan (tax) from all villagers, they decide to oppose it. Leading the villagers is a handsome young man named Bhuvan, who challenges them to a game of cricket, a game that is to be played by veteran British cricket players, versus villagers, including Bhuvan himself, who have never played this game before, and do not even know a bat from a piece of wood. As the challenge is accepted, the interest grows and attracts Indians from all over the region, as well as the British from all over the country - as everyone gathers to see the 'fair play' that the British will display against their counter-parts, who are aided by none other than the sister, Elizabeth, of Captain Rusell. Written by Sumitra (corrected by Sonia)

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

british | villager | village | land tax | rain | See more »

Taglines:

Once upon a time in India


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

8 May 2002 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Land Tax  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the final cricket match, one of the British players, Smith, gets run out. As the actor ran back to the crease he fell, landing on his cricket bat and dislocating his left shoulder. See more »

Goofs

When the cricket match scene is being shot, and Ismail got out as Tipu was run-out by the bowler, there is actual an omission of 1 ball. In a game of cricket, which is driven till last ball, calculation of 1 ball less is a major plot hole. See more »

Quotes

Lakha: See how badly hurt I am?
Gauri: Hurt? It's my father you need. Not me. Father? Lakha has cut his hand.
Ishwar: He seems to cut his hand more than he cuts wood.
See more »

Connections

Featured in 50 Films to See Before You Die (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

"Ghanan Ghanan"
Music by A.R. Rahman
Lyrics by Javed Akhtar
Performed by Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Sukhwinder Singh, Shankar Mahadevan,
Kishori Gowariker, Shaan and chorus
See more »

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User Reviews

 
As a sports movie, "Lagaan" is dramatized with great élan and suspense…

The setting is historical… The year is 1893… The British Raj imposes heavy taxes on the poor villagers despite all the problems droughts have caused on their income…

An arrogant army captain—unknown to him that his sister has fallen in love with a sensitive idealistic—confident in his countrymen's ability, offers the people relief if they can beat the fearsome British team at a game of cricket…

Despite its closeness to the conventions, "Lagaan" proved to be a break-out film… Besides the graceful and enchanting attractions of the song-and-dance sequences, it has a plot carefully fashioned to a special kind of audience—audience who likes sports movies…

They are minor characters compared to the captain's pretty sister (Rachel Shelley), who not only upholds the British tradition of fair play but also loses her heart to the handsome Indian hero…


28 of 31 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Top 5 Bollywood movies count_sriram
why oh why did they make her sing?! lejrulez
did it even deserve to go to the oscars saatvik
Is Lagaan a musical? avir27
Bhuvan dead ringer for Ganguly? vvs_laxman_hits_281
Somebody help me with some cricket questions.. BTaylor04
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