Last Sunday night’s win by composer A.R. Rahman for his score to director Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire (and no doubt it won’t be his last big award) brought to mind one of my favorite films of the last few years, another which featured music and songs by the incredibly talented Rahman.   I’m no expert on Indian cinema, but I’ve seen more than a few and always take any opportunity to recommend 2001′s Lagaan, a nominee for Best Foreign Film at the 2002 Academy Awards.  It didn’t take home the Oscar©, but it did win the affection of millions of audience members all over the world, breaking through into broad popularity despite being a nearly four-hour long period piece ultimately revolving around the obtuse (if you don’t know the rules, and even if you do…) game of cricket. 

The title Lagaan refers to the tax payment the Indian villagers paid to the British rulers — the movie takes place in 1893 India — and it sets up a classic good vs. evil storyline for the movie.  The poor farmers in a drought-ridden village can’t pay, and the extra-mean, extremely hard-ass Brit Captain in charge of the area has a novel idea:  he challenges the villagers to a game of cricket against the men in his regiment.  If the villagers win, they will not have to pay lagaan for several years.  If they lose, they pay triple the tax.  One of the especially accessible aspects of Lagaan for English-language audiences is the casting which mixes an amazing troupe of Indian actors with several British actors and actresses in major roles.  We’re also all vaguely (at least) aware of the history of India’s rule by the British, enough at least to make the unfair oppression, as seen in the movie, authentic and filled with dramatic tension. 

So you’ve got a great villain in Capt. Russell, played by British actor Paul Blackthorne, familiar to U.S. television audiences from his roles on ER, 24, The Dresden Files, and Lipstick Jungle, who seems even more perverse and sadistic when compared with his lovely English rose of a sister, played by actress Rachel Shelley (The L Word).  In contrast to her contemptuous and bigoted brother, her character Elizabeth is fascinated by Indian customs and frankly infatuated by the hero of the movie, the clever Bhuvan, played by Bollywood veteran leading man (and producer of Lagaan) Amir Khan.  Bhuvan already has a sweetheart, the pert Gauri (Gracy Singh) who is not unaware of Elizabeth’s interest.  It’s a fascinating love triangle, with not only the individuals but also the two very different cultures at odds with each other.

What brings Elizabeth and Bhuvan together is the cricket challenge thrown down by her brother.  The villagers do not know how to play the game, but it is their only hope of getting out from under their tax burden.  Elizabeth, sympathetic to their plight and more than happy to secretly defy her brother, offers to instruct Bhuvan and his team in the intricacies of cricket.  First, however, Bhuvan has to put together a team.  It’s a great opportunity for much humor and some cogent social commentary as he goes about recruiting disparate characters, including an untouchable, and not a one of them cricket players, to become part of the team.   He assembles the unlikely group and they begin cricket training.

I don’t want to tell all the story, but know that the action is broken up several times for some truly entertaining musical numbers, written by A.R. Rahman.  One of my favorites is “Chale Chalo” which is kind of like a training video where the guys go around working out to get in shape for their match.

Or the love duet “O Re Chori” where Bhuvan and Gauri sing together, and there’s an interlude with Elizabeth swooning over Bhuvan, too.

There are lots of terrific A.R. Rahman-themed videos on YouTube if you want to become quickly somewhat familiar with the rest of his prodigious output, including a three part salute to his best songs (here, here and here), and also lots more Lagaan material.  You can also watch the entire movie here.

I highly encourage you to carve out several hours to experience the delights of Lagaan.  You may not think you’ll be captivated by it, but you’ll probably be wrong.  In any case, it might spur you to seek out other A.R. Rahman films, and maybe you’ll even try cricket.  Well…maybe not that last thing.