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Lagaan, a 222-minute film, has been hailed as one of India's most significant box office successes in recent years, both domestically and internationally. Lagaan is a cinematographic and creative reflection on the evolution and growth of cricket in colonial India. Lagaan helps correct some common misconceptions regarding the development of cricket in India, such as the idea that cricket was just an aristocratic hobby for select privileged elites. In the film, a cricket match serves as a stage for indigenous people to stand up to the might of the colonial state.
The villagers' sports skills and final triumph helped them demonstrate that their 'Indian' identification was not substandard to that of the Whites'. In this way, native mastery of the colonial game of cricket evolved as the equalizer between colonizers and the colonized. Contrary to popular belief, cricket in India was also utilized by the Indians as a means of political resistance. The author shows this by utilizing the fictitious story of Lagaan as a springboard into previously untold history.
Using the medium of a Hindi film, Lagaan tells a colorful and patriotic story of Indian cricket's glory days alongside the best of Indian mass culture. It combines two of India's most compelling cultural icons: Bollywood dazzle and cricket, and places them in a typical Indian rural setting.
It tells the story of a rural cricket team against the oppressive colonial rule in a village named Champaner, and their struggle to protect their lives, family, and property. The conceited British army commander in charge of the cantonment, Capt. Russell, is angry that Bhuvan, the protagonist, characterizes cricket as a ‘firangi’ (foreigner) version of his childhood game, Gilli-danda, and that Bhuvan has been playing it ever since he was very little. Capt. Russell dares Bhuvan in front of the regional King and the majority of the villagers to defeat the English team in a game of cricket, where failure would result in the entire region being taxed three times the regular amount of their annual tax (Lagaan). However, if these villagers manage to defeat the English players, they wouldn't have to pay their taxes for the next three years.
This cricket match provided a platform for the locals to demonstrate their will against the colonial power. During the second half of the nineteenth century, it had become critical for the Indians to find a viable strategy to deal with the overwhelming demands of colonialism. Just like the lives of the villagers portrayed in the film, their activities were constrained since such planning had to be done from within a community, where such acts would be severely restricted in their physical expression.
The history of Indian cricket has always been rich with symbolism, as the film Lagaan aptly illustrates. The origin story of cricket can only be understood in light of the colonial setting, which may be interpreted in terms of power relations between the colonizer and the colonized.
The worldwide success of Lagaan, which included an Oscar nomination in 2002, speaks to the universality of its ideas of rising against injustice, falling in love, and battling for a good cause. This film succeeded in changing the lives of many Indians and became one to be remembered for decades to come.
Published December 1, 2021
Written by Khushhi Mahensaria ~ Edited by Kristeen Patel ~ Graphics created by Prabneet Kaur
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