Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India(2001)
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India is a 2001 Hindi-language epic period sports drama film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. It stars Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, and Paul Blackthorne. Set in 1893, the story follows Bhuvan, a farmer who challenges a British officer to a cricket match to cancel the oppressive land tax on his village. The film combines historical oppression with sports action and emotional drama. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, making it one of India's most internationally recognized movies. Lagaan was released on 15 June 2001 and is available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Netflix
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2001
- Director
- Ashutosh Gowarikar
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 3h 44m
- Rating
- 6.8/10
Storyline
In 1893, a poor Indian village is crushed by a heavy land tax called lagaan. When a cruel British officer doubles the tax, a young farmer named Bhuvan challenges him to a cricket match. If the villagers win, they pay no tax for three years. If they lose, they pay triple. The only problem? No one in the village knows how to play cricket.
“A game that changed a nation.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
Trivia
- The film's cricket match took 30 days to shoot, with real cricketers coaching the actors.
- Aamir Khan insisted on using real mud for the village scenes, not artificial material.
- The British actors were mostly from England's theater scene, not known in Bollywood.
- The film was India's third Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.
- Aamir Khan learned to bowl left-handed for his role, though he is right-handed.
- The song 'Radha Kaise Na Jale' was filmed in a single continuous shot.
- The film's budget was so high that Aamir Khan mortgaged his house to help fund it.