Click here to copy URL

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

7.0

1,181

Ratings

Add to lists

Pro reviews

Links

1 Related Movies

Related Documentary:

Madness in the Desert

Original title

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

Year

2001

Running time

224 min.

Country

India

Director

Ashutosh Gowariker

Screenwriter

Ashutosh Gowariker

Cast

Music

A.R. Rahman

Cinematography

Anil Mehta

Producer

Aamir Khan

Genre

Musical. Romance. Drama | Colonialism. 19th Century. Sports. Cricket

Synopsis

Sometime during latter half of the 19th century, a small village in North India is facing drought conditions. Captain Andrew Russell, the British captain of the nearby cantonment, demands double of the usual land tax (lagaan) from the villagers. When the villagers' representatives go to meet Captain Russell to discuss the situation, Capt. Russell challenges them to a game of cricket with his team after three months. A young villager Bhuvan accepts the challenge and starts to build his team of villagers for the showdown with their colonial rulers.

Rankings Position

#65 Best Musical Movies

Awards: 2001: Nominated for Oscar: Best Foreign Language Picture

Show all

Critics' reviews

"There's little to distinguish the plotting and wide-screen visuals from more traditional Hollywood musicals--though few recent American musicals are this fluid or engaging"

Chicago Reader
"An epic film in every respect."

Boston Globe
"This film is like nothing they've seen before (...) Watching the film, we feel familiarity with the characters and the show-down, but the setting and the production style is fresh and exciting (...) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"A movie that knows its business -- pleasing a broad, popular audience -- and goes about it with savvy professionalism and genuine flair."

Dave Kehr: The New York Times
"Neither pure masala musical nor pure masala meller, “Lagaan” is an involving, easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment"

Derek Elley: Variety
"A rippingly good, old-fashioned movie epic that takes the best of Bollywood cinema ... and elevates it for an international audience."

Edward Guthmann: SFGATE
"If you've never experienced a Bollywood musical before, seeing Lagaan will be like watching Gone With the Wind without ever having seen a Hollywood movie."

Peter Rainer: New York Magazine
Show 2 more reviews

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

18 My Favorite Indian Movies (10)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

User history