Essay: Lagaan: Once upon a Time in India

In a country which speaks over 780 languages and practices more than five major religions, it’s a difficult task to identify the unifying factors that played as the source of India’s nationalistic fervor. The precipitate of this uncertainty can be seen plainly even today, with consistent infighting and discrimination being a common sight within the communalist structures of post-colonial India. In an effort to quell the divides within Indian society, Bollywood explores the origins of the country and colonial life as a reminder of the unified front that gave birth to India’s independence in the first place. Lagaan serves as one such reminder, highlighting the lived experience and joint struggle of Indians under British occupation. Moreover, Lagaan’s romanticized rejection of western culture serves as a thesis for Indian improvement, encouraging the subcontinent’s people to coalesce into a community capable of advancing past the white man that previously conquered them.
Lagaan’s depiction of indigenous abuse and marginalization at the hands of British officials provides viewers context for a collective trauma; a concept that is then leveraged as justification for unity amongst a traditionally fractured population. Captain Russel’s gruesome beating of Arjan, his attempt to force meat upon the Raja, and his cavalier attitude towards taxation of an already impoverished people are all designed with the intent to evoke anger out of viewers. The tension built during the early parts of the film is then weaponized against the oppressor, resulting in a unified and determined collection of villages that manages to beat the British and remove them from Champaner. Strong suggestive elements are added to this process in an effort to affect change in viewers, including the dismantling of caste restrictions and ease of Muslim-Hindu relations that were not characteristic of the time period. By using the poor experience the villagers had with the British, Bhuvan was able to create an effective cricket team and unify the province despite the harsh infighting of Indian society. Similarly, an understanding of these past abuses is used to inspire the current generation to transcend communal infighting and focus on progressing past the real enemy: the west.
Consistent highlighting of the shortcomings of the British, along with the rejection of its ideals, encourages viewers to recognize the tenuous nature of the west’s leadership; thus providing the Indian population motivation to set aside differences to break the west’s hold. The overconfidence of Captain Russell is a great example of this, as it represents the incompetence of the average British officer in relation to the broad powers they hold. The actual game of cricket depicts similar sentiments, since the success of the indigenous team breaks the assumptions of the British regarding their false-superiority. This victory is so significant in the eyes of the British that they abandon the cantonment, thus illustrating to viewers that through social unification they could rise above and beyond their white counterparts. The consistent need to differentiate the Indian community from European ideals is further illustrated in Elizabeth’s unrequited love for Bhuvan. By having the protagonist opt for Gauri, a villager of the indigenous population, Lagaan contests the supremacy of western culture; further supporting India’s cultural identity.
While Lagaan is far from a realistic depiction of colonial life in India, its ability to provide the viewer with perspectives that can positively impact the inter-community relationships of India’s current sociopolitical environment make it a powerful form of media. By highlighting the injustices experienced by Indians of the past, viewers are challenged to look at the big picture and reevaluate the distinctions between true conflicts and those grown from communalism. The reintroduction of British injustices in the Indian psyche also serves as a challenge, with the plot of Lagaan explicitly tying the victory of such challenges with unity and acceptance within the community. Inspiration led to resurrection in Lagaan’s time period, and through the messages laid within the story, the target audience is inspired to make the same supportive, accepting environment our hero Bhuvan has done for others.
Works Cited
“Lagaan: Once upon a Time in India.” Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2002.
Orgi. “Religion.” Census of India: Religion, censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx.
“’780 Languages Spoken in India, 250 Died out in Last 50 Years’.”
Https://Www.hindustantimes.com/, Hindustan Times, 17 July 2013, Web.