8/10
It was totally an uplifting and an inspiring film...
22 January 2006
I'm not an Indian myself, I'm a Filipina and this is actually the first Indian film I've ever seen but I was automatically enthralled as the film starts playing…I have to admit I became engrossed with the film already when the first scenes was where Aamir Khan was. Later on, as Gracie Singh performs superbly with all the musical performances, I decided from then on that I already love this movie! Even though I only have to watch thru the subtitles, it's certainly fine with me. This film was only introduced to me by my cousins during Christmas last year. From then on, I've looked everywhere for this movie in every video stores. Luckily, I got one 2weeks ago and I became so fascinated that I download pictures & wallpapers already…all about Lagaan!!! I wouldn't be posting a comment here if I didn't have the Lagaan fever!!! =p The story started in a small village of Champaner , where Bhuvan (Aamir Khan) and Gauri (Gracie Singh) are in a community of poor and innocent farmers who are happily plowing, sowing, praying for the rains and reaping their harvest. Inspite of such unwanted circumstances, they are still full of hope.

But then, a British captain, Captain Andrew (Paul Blackthorne), challenges the farmers to a cricket match. He is a capricious character that wants to burden the villagers with a land tax (Lagaan). He waived that there'll be no Lagaan for the next three years and that he'll be the one to pay it from his own pocket. Worst, if they lose, they will pay triple Lagaan for that year. He knows that the villagers are ignorant of the game and its rules. So he's pretty confident that he'll win the game… What he didn't know was that his younger sister, Elizabeth (Rachel Shelley) is completely against his outrageous ideas… Elizabeth's first meeting with Bhuvan already got her attracted to him… Unsuspectingly, all of the villagers knows that she helps them purely out of sympathy…well, I guess it was that way but she fells in love with Bhuvan later on…it just pains me to see that Elizabeth's love for Bhuvan is an unrequited one…she remained Bhuvan's Radha… The cricket match between Indians and British was really superb and very uplifting. Nevertheless, their wit and determination never let go unnoticed. Even the British officers cheered for their victory! It's really a heartwarming story…of Purity in Spirit, Sacrificial Love and that good still prevails..

Aamir Khan has absolutely a god-given talent…simply amazing…he dances like any other talented men I know who perform. He was very good in the role…he looks very appealing especially when Elizabeth imagined him in a princely suit! Gracie Singh looks convincing as Gauri who loves Bhuvan with all her heart. She looks bubbly and cute to me! She displays an excellent facial expression that she can shift from one emotion to another without any difficulty, I guess… They are really perfect for each other… On the other hand, Elizabeth may have love Bhuvan with the same intensity as with Gauri's but I guess, they weren't really meant to be with each other…the rest of the men in Bhuvan's team were also fit for their roles…they never failed to uplift, share their sentiments and inspire me…the British officials showcased a role of fairness…they sympathized and cheered with the villager's victory.

For an overall view, the movie was really amazing and I never will get tired watching it all over again. The songs were enjoyable. I can even depict it in my mind…sometimes I would hum it 'coz I cannot recite the proper lyrics…moreover, even if this film didn't win in the Oscars…it's all worth it
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