Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India

Once upon a time in India

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Jhamu Sughand Productions

2001233 min7.3 / 10

An epic, warmly told story of village unity and underdog triumph against colonial oppression, built on cricket as a metaphor for resistance and national pride.

The year is 1893 and India is under British occupation. In a small village, the tyrannical Captain Russell has imposed an unprecedented land tax on its citizens. Outraged, Bhuvan, a rebellious farmer, rallies the villagers to publicly oppose the tax. Russell offers a novel way to settle the dispute: he challenges Bhuvan and his men to a game of cricket, a sport completely foreign to India. If Bhuvan and his men can defeat Russell's team, the tax will be repealed.

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Questions people ask

  • Does Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India end with hope? Yes, very. More hopeful than 97% of films.

  • Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 91% of films.

  • Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India easy watching? Yes. More comforting than 77% of films.

  • Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.

  • Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

56/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity93

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise15

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love80

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

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Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

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Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

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Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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