Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

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Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Writers: Ashutosh Gowariker and Kumar Dave and Sanjay Dayma, story by Ashutosh Gowariker, dialogue by K.P. Saxena

Stars: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Raghuveer Yadav, Rajendra Gupta, Rajesh Vivek



As the result of a wager between native hothead Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) and the racist Capt. Russell (Paul Blackthorne), the inhabitants of an impoverished Indian village must defeat the local British troops in a cricket match in order to escape from the crippling tax that is levied by the imperialists.

 


This hugely entertaining film is both familiar and exotic. 



All of the conventions of the traditional sports film and love triangle are present and few will be surprised by any of the developments in the story. 



However, since this is my first Bollywood film (as it may be for many American viewers), it benefits from the foreign milieu as well as the exuberance and talent of the performers. 



It took a while for me to get into the spirit of the musical numbers with their clearly dubbed vocals, but I was soon captivated by those as well. 


Spoiler alert!! End of the movie!!!


Beneath all of the comedy, romance, music, and clearly defined heroes and villains, there is a serious aspect to the story--the repression of native people by colonial forces.

 


Gracy Singh, as Bhuvan's childhood sweetheart, is absolutely charming.


















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