‘Lagaan’: Unlike anything you’ve ever seen in American film

LAGAAN (2001)

By TERRY R. CASSREINO

About a half hour into the four-hour epic “Lagaan,” the cast suddenly breaks into the first of several spirited, infectious, hook-laden musical production numbers filled with great singing and choreography.

But this isn’t Hollywood. It’s Bollywood. “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India” is a typical, Hindi-language melodramatic film, the type that will pack thousands of movie goers into air conditioned cinemas across India.

And it’s all incredibly enjoyable.

“Lagaan,” an Oscar-nominated drama, is set in Victorian period of India’s colonial British rule. The film is about a small village whose residents are struggling with a severe drought and also with oppressive, unfair taxes levied by the evil ruling British authorities.

Like most Hindi films, “Lagaan” includes many conventions common to Bollywood films; They feature popular Indian stars, melodramatic stories, over-the-top acting, clearly defined good and bad characters and lavishly staged musical numbers.

If you are willing to accept those conventions, then you are in for a treat. Most Bollywood films – the industry takes its name by combining Mumbai’s former name, Bombay, with Hollywood – are long and a hell of a lot of fun.

AAMIR KHAN IN A SCENE FROM LAGAAN

For years I always wanted to see a Bollywood film. I had read where India produced more films each year than even the U.S. film industry. And I knew that residents of India take their films seriously.

“Lagaan,” released in 2001 to worldwide acclaim, was a food choice. The film’s story is fascinating and entertaining. The acting headlined by Indian heartthrob Aamir Khan is good. The direction by Ashutosh Gowariker is consistent is adequate and keeps you involved.

And the musical production numbers with songs by popular Indian composer A.R. Rahman are wonderful. Rahman, by the way, composed the musical score for the film “Slumdog Millionaire” and that film’s hit song “Jai Ho!” Both the score and the song won Oscars.

“Lagaan” features about eight songs, much fewer than the typical Broadway or American film musical. And unlike Broadway or film musicals, the songs don’t necessarily propel the plot from one point to another. The first number, “Ghanan Ghanan,” is a joyous celebration of what looks like an approaching rainstorm.

I've included the number in full at the end of this post.

AAMIR KHAN IN A SCENE FROM LAGAAN

The film’s first two hours centers on villagers’ efforts to weather a devastating drought and unreasonable taxes from the British. The second half hinges a wager the villagers made with the British over a game of cricket.

The deal: If the villagers win the game, they will have to pay no taxes for three years. Now, I know nothing about cricket. But my lack of knowledge didn’t stop me from enjoying the film or the second half.

Gowariker does such a great job directing the film and staging the cricket game that I found it very suspenseful.

Khan carries the film in the charismatic lead role; he also produced the film through his company. Khan is a major star in India and has headlined other successful Bollywood films.

Don’t let the length of the movie dissuade you from watching the film or giving a Bollywood film a chance. Most Bollywood films run more than two hours, sometime approaching the length of “Lagaan.”

My advice, give “Lagaan” a try. The film is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

“Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India” is available for purchase or rental on DVD. Click here to purchase the film on Blu-ray through Amazon.com. Below is the film’s first production number “Ghanan Ghanan.”

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