And although the cricket match is a crusade only for Champaner and its province, it is a metaphor for colonialismвЂ™s defeat throughout India. He is continually compared to Krishna, solidifying his place as an almost godly savior figure who remakes his people into conquering - but, importantly, nonviolent - heroes. As the misunderstood leader rallying his people to resist their oppressors, Bhuvan is the center of the filmвЂ™s mythos. Although Bhuvan is not a particularly new character (weвЂ™ve seen his like in every movie made about youth-led revolution), he is compellingly earthy and spiritual at the same time.

KhanвЂ™s intensity makes Bhuvan a thoroughly vibrant and lucid character, and he virtually oozes sensuality and sex appeal. If they fail, they must pay three times the normal tax and so, probably starve. Young, rebellious Bhuvan (Aamir Khan, who also produced the film) takes a wager proposed by Russell: if, in three monthsвЂ™ time, the villagers defeat the soldiers in a game of cricket, they will be excused from the tax for three years. Every year the villagers are required to pay a lagaan, or land tax, to the soldiers this year there has been no rain and little crop yield. Spanning three months in 1893, LagaanвЂs re-creation mythos centers on the village of Champaner, which is controlled by a cantonment of British soldiers and their mustache-twirling Captain, Andrew Russell (Paul Blackthorne). Fitting, as everything in legend is always larger than life. Everything about it, it seems, is huge - an enormous cast of ridiculously beautiful people, wide shots of expansive countryside, and elaborate housing for occupying British soldiers. Much has been made of the filmвЂ™s expense ( Lagaan is the most expensive Indian film ever made), scope, and length (with intermission, almost four hours).

In effect, Lagaan is a re-creation story - an explanation not of how a people came into existence, but how they remained in existence by defeating tremendous obstacles, and becoming gods of their own destinies. As a textual introduction informs us, all events and characters in Lagaan are fictional, and the film functions as a glorious fairy tale, a revised history, and a new mythology. Buoyed by the tremendous energy of six extravagant musical numbers, four hours go by like 45 minutes, and even a slightly unfathomable game of cricket that lasts as long as an average Disney movie is enthralling.Д«ut the most remarkable aspect of Lagaan is its triumphant righting of historical wrongs. Vastly entertaining and epic, Lagaan swirls across the screen in a combustive visual mix of gold sands and orange sunsets.

Lagaan movie review