The year is 1893. Champaner - a small farming village in central India. The farmers of Champaner depend on agriculture as the main source of livelihood. On the outskirts of the village stands a British cantonment, which wields the power of life and death over the villages under its jurisdiction. Last year, there was rain, but very little. And this year... no rain yet! And then, a bolt from the blue. The Rajah's emissaries thunder through the province announcing double tax - DUGNA LAGAAN. Unusual times call for unusual measures. LAGAAN - a story of a battle without bloodshed. A story of extraordinary circumstances thrust upon ordinary people. Adversity faces with fortitude and injustice with dignity. There is a slowly awakening pride, the grit and determination of a people who have everything to lose. Faith and courage come face to face with arrogance and ruthlessness. And the human spirit triumphs.

Once upon a time in India, an India that was oppressed by British rule, there was a small village, Champaner, governed by a sadistic commander, Captain Russel. The farmers of Champaner had not seen rainfall this season, and to make matters worse, were tricked by the capricious commander into accepting a challenge to defeat the British in their own game of cricket. Led by the spirited Bhuvan, the farmers prepare for this battle, yet another struggle for survival. If they win, they won't have to pay tax to the British Empire for 3 years, but if they lose, they will have to pay triple tax!

This is a story about a time when most of India had come to accept that the British would rule for yet another 100 years. The Rajah's had gradually lost most of their legendary power and were now only nominal rulers, in some cases mere tax collectors on behalf of the British. The British, adopting a dual policy, protected the Rajah's territories from each other. In exchange they collected a tax, which was paid by every farmer in the country. The submission of a portion of a farmer's harvested crop in the form of agricultural tax to the ruler was known as LAGAAN.

To watch a three hour forty minute long film, with a cricket match in it was not really my idea of entertainment. Still, I accompanied my friends to undergo the torture of sitting through such a long film. I was surprised that I sat glued to the seat and watched this film without a blink. The next day I did the same thing. And I watched Lagaan the day after too! I have seen this film 11 times, and every time I see it, I fall in love with it even more deeply.

What is this magic that keeps my eyes glued to the screen? Is it the story? The superb direction? The simplicity of the characters and their acting? Is it the thrilling game of cricket which I never cared about before the film? Is it the colorful song and dance sequences? Is it the triumph of the human spirit that this film portrays? What was so inspiring, so motivating about the film, that touched me to such a depth that I have never known before? Perhaps its finding answers to all these questions that makes me watch this film over and over again!

Lagaan is one of the five nominated films in the best foreign film category for the Oscars this year. No Indian film has ever brought home an Oscar before.

This is a film that breaks all barriers of religion, social status and physical deformity ….. barriers that were prevalent in colonial India, and still are. This film is about hope, dreams and emotions and the ability to combine the hopes, dreams and emotions of people to reach for the stars.

Sunil Masand

An actor who took to film direction after almost a decade in front of the camera, LAGAAN is Ashutosh Gowariker's third film as a Director and also his most successful one. His earlier films being, the murder mystery PEHLA NASHA in 1993 & the action thriller BAAZI in 1995.