A Classic Cinema. Review on Lagaan

I am not a regular moviegoer.I watch the odd Hindi film, which gets rave reviews.

Having just watched Lagaan , the celluloid world that this movie has created in my mind is still as fresh as fragrance from wetearth after the rains.

Aamir Khan has created a sumptuous feat for the eyes that pleases even the jaded critics.Having a down to earth story line with emotion and humanity, this is a film that fondly reminisces the epics of yesteryear Bollywood.

The plot, story line, characterization and its music have already been dealt in many of the rare reviews of the film here.I do not want to repeat.

The five aspects of the movie I liked and the reasons why I consider this movie as a near classic are:

1)Team Work: The movie is not about Indian national movement or about a mighty cricket bat’tle. To my mind, its all about team work, with the bottom line as Bhuvan who builds up the rag-tag peasant cricket team says,

“Saath rahenge to muthhi ban Jaayenge” (together we will be the fist). It is not about any personal heroic win or a humilating defeat of a team but a triumph of human spirit, a spirited teamwork to defend what is their birthright.

It is an idea of coming together of characters like Arjan, the blacksmith; Deva, the sikh; Ismail, the muslim potter; Kachra, the untouchable Sweeper etc., and above all their Christian coach Elizabeth( representing the national microcosm ! ), collectively triumph the most hopeless situation. Bhuvan the ideal leader ably conveys his hot-blooded belief in himself and enthuses his team by reminding them

“such aur sahas hai Jiske man mein jeet usi ki hogi” (Honesty and courage will win).

The movie is also revelation and trendsetter as a team effort of its cast and crew, the direction, cinematography, choreography all gel together with the underlying subject of the film.

2)Fight against caste system: Even to this day caste system has a firm ground in Indian society. People belonging to lower castes are treated as less than human beings. In India a man is not a sweeper because of his work. He is a sweeper because of his birth irrespective of the question whether he does sweeping or not. This is an outrage on the helpless castes which other castes over ages perpetrated with equanimity and impunity.

In spite of the distraught and reluctance expressed by some of the teammates in including Kachra, the outcaste, in their team, Bhuvan convinces his teammates and includes him as a spinner in their team. This aspect has an excellent underlying message.

Kachra in this movie has a standout role, where he not only spins out the opposition but plays a sheet anchor , holding the fort in batting along with his Captain in the nail-bitting last overs of the match.

The movie makes you feel for this character leaving warmth in your heart. Kachra is my ‘Man of the Match!

3)Love triangle: The emotional triangle between Bhuvan, Gauri and Elizabeth is delicately handled. There is a fresh breeze of air given to the whole issue unlike most of the run of the mill kind of love triangles seen in other movies where one of the character feels loss by the end of the film. In Lagaan the love triangle is resolved in a dignified way by drawing a comparision with the spiritual romance and eternal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. It is one of the most sensible and powerful depiction of emotional entertainment ever been made in the history of bollywood.

The cinematography, particularly comes alive while depicting the three faces in the love triangle. To freeze a darker Gauri, tanned Bhuvan and a paler Elizabeth in the same frames without making one look in a stark contrast to the other is a commendable effort. The delicate blend of Indian music and Western music and the inclusion of Western dance in Hindi cinema has not only been carefully handled but also beautifully picturised in the backdrop of the desert landscape with muted earth tones.

4)The Cricket Match: Where the thin plot of the movie steams out, the cricket match takes over. I think this is the only Indian film that captures cricket that well. Lagaan shows us that we can enjoy the game without losing its historical perspective as a British legacy. It is not easy to handle cricket sequences in a match with a foregone conclusion. I have never seen audience participating with such fervor in a cinema hall, cheering up every shot played.

The Indian cricket team, for once, grips you, and you are anxious for every ball bowled all the way till the exciting finish ! Every aspect of cricket has been depicted in a melodramatic climax, chucking, sledging, match fixer, missed catches, overthrows, run outs, amazing spin bowling and the sixers.

5)Aamir Khan: Aamir Khan, both as a producer and actor is the soul of the film. Considering that the film relies on a simple and a unusual historical story, it is a risky project .But Aamir Khan believes in

‘NO GUTS NO GLORY'

Aamir Khan may not be a stylized actor like big B or Sharukh, but in this movie his acting is superb. The fire in his eyes draws you deeper into his world of conviction. It marks a return to the honest heartfelt acting of the other great Khan, Yusuf Khan (Dilip Kumar as we all know.) I think Aamir Khan and his film richly deserve a national award.

But in a country where someone called Padmaja Joglekar is awarded Padma Shri for her “distinguished service” in music (Ever heard about her ??, She recorded an album of Vajpayee’s poems !!!) NOT to talk about MGR and Rajeev Gandhi getting Bharat Ratnas before Sardar Patel. Ha!

Knowing Aamir Khan for what he is, he would never suffer the governmental hypocrites, even if he is given an award, he may turn it down. Did not the grand old Sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan slap it back and refused to accept the belated Padma Vibushan.

Coming back to the film, despite its some minor shortcomings, the movie is a MUST SEE clean, family entertainer with a repeat value.

I am going to see it AGAIN!