An involving, easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment that could be the trigger for Bollywood's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets.
Lagaan (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:19
Fresh:19
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.9/10
Consensus: Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for language and some violence
Runtime: 3 hrs 44 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Theatrical Release:May 8, 2002 Limited
Synopsis: Considered to be a modern classic of Indian cinema, LAGAAN is a musical drama which tells the story of a central Indian farming village in 1893. The village waits for the monsoons to come and rain... Considered to be a modern classic of Indian cinema, LAGAAN is a musical drama which tells the story of a central Indian farming village in 1893. The village waits for the monsoons to come and rain on its crops, but the ground remains dry and infertile. Meanwhile, British ruler Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne) demands lagaan--or double normal taxes--from the villagers. When it becomes clear that they can't pay, Russell challenges the villagers to a game of cricket, a game they know nothing about. Teaching the villagers about the game falls on the shoulders of farmer Bhuvan (Aamir Khan). As they begin to learn, the villagers are inspired to go up against Russell, with tax negotiation as the stakes for the game. Full of choreographed musical numbers and climaxing in a pulse-pounding cricket match, LAGAAN is a fun, heartwarming British/Indian production that should have no difficulties translating across other national borders. [More]
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne
Starring: Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Suhasini Mulay, Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Screenwriter: Ashutosh Gowariker, Sanjay Dayma, Kumar Dave
Producer: Aamir Khan
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
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Reviews for Lagaan
After having seen this Cinemascope extravaganza in a theater, on DVD and video, I still think the big screen experience is worth it.
An enormously entertaining movie, like nothing we've ever seen before, and yet completely familiar.
A rippingly good, old-fashioned movie epic that takes the best of Bollywood cinema ... and elevates it for an international audience.
An old-fashioned crowd-pleaser that charms you into forgiving any of its shortcomings.
If you haven't sampled India's indigenous cinema, this is a great place to begin.
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.
An affectionate homage to a popular genre that raises it to the level of an art film with fully drawn characters, a serious underlying theme, and a sophisticated style and point of view.
It's been made with an innocent yet fervid conviction that our Hollywood has all but lost.
In some ways, Lagaan is quintessential Bollywood. Except it's much, much better.
If you can swallow its absurdities and crudities Lagaan really is enormously good fun.
This is a movie that knows its business -- pleasing a broad, popular audience -- and goes about it with savvy professionalism and genuine flair.
Elegantly produced and expressively performed, the six musical numbers crystallize key plot moments into minutely detailed wonders of dreamlike ecstasy.
Does point the way for adventurous Indian filmmakers toward a crossover into nonethnic markets.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
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| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 82% 82% | Paranormal Activity |
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