Lagaan

Movie Review:

The story is set in a village of colonised India in 1893. The whole movie has a symbolic
significance and represents the British Raaj from 1857 to 1947. When the movie starts the
English have total control over Sub-Continent and the Raja is just like a puppet in the hands of
Colonisers but Bhuvan the protagonist isn’t. The story is that the British Army creates a clash
between two neighbouring territories and then collects taxes(Indian minerals) from both for
protecting them from each other. It represents “Divide and Rule” policy which Victorian
government practised in its colonies.
When the villagers go to the British Camp to request them to reconsider the increased
amount of taxes, the White people are playing Cricket which represents Colonizer’s Laws and
Constitutions. The villagers make fun of their game as Indians actually did in 19th century and at
last had to face the defeat in 1857.
The English Captain challenges Bhuvan to play a match with them. It is decided that if
the villagers are defeated they’ll have to pay double tax but if they win, the tax of next three
years will be forgiven. Bhuvan accepts the challenge as Sir Syed, Gangadhar Tilak, Jinnah,
Ghandi ji, Nehru and other leaders did. The protagonist teaches the ignorant villagers the rules
regulations of Cricket and instructs them how to play. As Bhuvan is not well aware of the game
so Elizabeth, the English Captain’s sister helps him to learn as Jinnah, Iqbal and Nehru etc were
graduated from European Universities. The Cricket team of the village is consisted of Hindus,
Muslims, Sikh and a Christian, which practises for three months and then wins the match. The
Englishmen are so ashamed that they do not even collect the tax but terminate their mission
from the territory as the incident of 1947.
The movie posses some sub-plots as well. One of them is the story of Ghaori, the
beloved of Bhuvan. Ghaori represents the land of India. She stalks him in the forest and after
finding him, expresses her feeling for him in weasel words to which Bhuvan understands but
ignores. When he accepts the challenge of White man, all the villagers leave him and there is
only Ghaori who stands by him. After some days, when Bhuvan starts practicing cricket under
the shining sun, she gives him water to drink, wipes out sweat from his forehead, cooks lunch
for him and the team as this land provides us everything. But when Elizabeth comes to assist
the team, Bhuvan ignores Ghaori because Elizabeth is pretty, attractive and educated as the
Western World is. Elizabeth considers Bhuvan handsome, loyal and innocent so fells for him
and wants to gain him. Gauri observes all this but can’t utter a word and just weeps silently.
When both the teams are in the ground, Gauri prays for him because she knows the fact that
her love can only be saved by winning the match. Finally Bhuvan wins and then accepts her
love. Elizabeth watchs Bhuvan and Gauri embracing each other and she realises that he is not
made for her so she let him live with his love. And at last she leaves the village with her brother.