LAGAAN !!!

Why everyone is so silent inside this cinema hall? Well, it is because the Big B of Bollywood has started telling a true story. Just listen to it and enjoy. Once upon a time in the year of 1893, there was a village in India, known as Champaner. The British used to rule over that village. The British people always used to charge taxes on the poor villagers. But, in that year, there was drought. One day, the villagers saw the black clouds and started dancing while singing the song, ‘Ghanana ghanana ghir ghir aaye badra, ghan ghan ghor kaar chaye badra’, but of no use, the Lord Indra is still angry on them. All the villagers including Mukhiyaji, went to meet Raja Puran Singh and the British captain Russell. Bhuvan saw those British people, playing cricket and regarded that as a game of ‘Gili-Danda’. Now, Captain Russell became very angry and gave Bhuvan a fantastic offer. The offer includes a gambling. If the villagers can defeat the British players, then they would be exempted from taxes for next 3 years, otherwise, they have to pay 3 times of their taxes within this year only. Everyone became stunned, when Bhuvan accepted the offer. When the villagers were scared of this issue, Bhuvan motivated them by singing the song, ‘bhale kitney lambey ho raastey ho, thakey nay eh tera taan ho…tu aaja rey, issh dharti ka hai raja tu, nahi haar maanley tu, tujhko kya dar hai re, yeh dharti apni hai, apna ambar hai…o mitwa, tu aaja re’. Well, love at first sight is not bad at all. The younger sister of Captain Russell is Elizabeth. She fell in love with Bhuvan. That is the reason why, this sweet memsahib started helping the villagers.

Bhuvan is now busy in making a cricket team of 11 players. Already, Ishwar, the father of Gauri is there in the team as a wicket keeper. Guran, the fortune teller, who always motivates Gauri by saying that Bhuvan will be her future hubby, has also been included. Bhura, the poultry farmer is expert in catching those hens; he can teach fielding to everyone. Who is this Sikh person? Well, he is Devaa. Under British army, he has played cricket. Bagha, the dumb drummer; Ismail, the Muslim pottery, and Arjan joined in. Bhuvan found another man, whose name is Goli. He is expert in hunting animals. Goli is included in the team as a fast bowler. Everyone started hating this untouchable person, but his handicapped hand can produce wonderful leg spins. At last, the team of 11 players is ready. Now, Elizabeth gave them the cricket ball for practicing. Now, Gauri is jealous of Elizabeth, but; how can you suppress the love? that is why, Gauri sang the song, ‘Madhuvan mein joh kanhaiya joh phish miley, Radha kaise naa jwaley’, but Bhuvan understood everything and controlled both the domestic and foreign Radhas by singing the song, ‘O re Chori, maan bhi le baath mori, maine pyar tujhi se hai kiya, tere bin main jeeya toh kya jeeya’ and Elizabeth danced with the song, ‘My heart beats…thousand words I feel, it turns a bliss…I am in love for sure’ Ok, enough of romance, now, let us come back to the business. Bhuvan and his teammates are really doing hardwork during the match practice sessions, after all, for how many years, will these Indians be ruled by those bloody English people, and that is why, they sang the song with the tune of A.R. Rahman, ‘baar baar haan, bolo yaaron haan, apni jeet ho, unki haar haan, koi humse jeet na paabey, mit jaabe joh takraabey…tut gaayee joh ungli utthi, paachon mili toh ban gayi mutthi.’ When, there is unity in diversity, who can dare to defeat them?

The cricket match has started. The British Team will bat first. Ram Singh, who works under the British administration, is the commentator of the match. How can Kachra spin the ball in the very first session, as spinners can spin the old balls only? It was 66 runs, when the first wicket fell due to a run-out. Bagha is a very weak fielder. He always misses the catches. But, what about Lakha? Why is he misfielding all the time? Ishwar made him understand, but of no use. At the end of the 1^st day, England scored 273 for 3 and they were targeting a score of 600. But, it is easier said than done. On that night only, Elizabeth accused Lakha to be involved in the betting case, because Lakha also loves Gauri. Lakha was given a last chance. On the 2^nd day, Devaa started the bowling by uttering, ‘Baaye daa Guru, baaye daa fateh’ and he got the wicket, due to an extra-ordinary flying catch by Lakha. Russell was stunned to see that. Then came Mr. Goli, with his unique swinging arms. That time, there was no rule written anywhere as an objection for that action. Kachra just threw a ball from the boundary. Wow, it was spinning. Kachra came to bowl and took 3 wickets in a row to get a hat-trick. Later Guran, Devaa and Goli finished the tail-enders. Indians got a good start with Devaa and Bhuvan, but it was bad luck for Devaa, the ball touched the hands of the bowler, and he got run out at a score of 49 runs. Arjan and Bagha got out, as they lost their temper due to the sledging by British people. Ismail was retired hurt. Lakha was the victim of bodyline series. On that night, everyone was tensed due to poor batting and they prayed to God by singing the song, ‘O Paalanhare…tujh bin hamra kaun ho naahi’. On the last day, the partnership of Bhuvan and Ishwar was going well, but Ishwar was an old man and got run out, as he was totally exhausted. Goli went for a duck. Ismail came to the rescue with a runner, Tipu. Bhuvan scored 100 runs and Ismail scored 50 runs. Tipu got run out, as he came out too early. They require 16 runs out of 13 balls. Russell kicked the ball to the boundary, to keep Bhura on strike. Bhuvan fell down at the pitch, but Bhura sacrificed his wicket. Kachra supported well at the end. The last ball was a dramatic one. It happens once in a lifetime. You cannot bowl a ‘no ball’ in the last over. Bhuvan scored 6 runs in the last ball to win the match and Lord Indra started pouring the rains. Raja Puran Singh and Ram Singh were also happy; after all they are also Indians. Russell got transfer in Central Africa; and what to say about Elizabeth; True love that exists in your heart never creates any barrier. She remained unmarried, as she believed herself as the foreign Radha of Bhuvan. Gauri got her dream hubby. This was all about Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “LAGAAN” featuring Aamir Khan and others.