The EBE (Evil British Empire) has recently laid claim to a small village in central India. No doubt bored out of his mind, the moustache-twirling Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) cripples the town’s villagers by demanding lagaan (triple tax). Silly Russell underestimates the wily Indians by challenging them to a game of cricket—no lagaan if they win, double lagaan if they lose. Led by a sexy farmer (Aamir Khan), a group of men fight and conquer the EBE as well as their own hypocritical caste system. There’s back-stabbing, inter-racial desire and, most importantly, singing and dancing. Beyond Lagaan’s incredibly long dry spells are the fabulous Bollywood musical numbers that celebrate the film’s broad intertexual themes. These moments are so exuberant, life-affirming and deliciously campy you might forget that you’ve been forced to watch a four-hour cricket match. Oh, if Scarlett O’Hara had only known the words to “Ghanan Ghanan.”
Since 2001, we've brought you uncompromising, candid takes on the world of film, music, television, video games, theater, and more. Independently owned and operated publications like Slant have been hit hard in recent years, but we’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or fees.
If you like what we do, please consider subscribing to our Patreon or making a donation.