Why It Ranks
Lagaan is the greatest cricket film and possibly the most ambitious sports film in world cinema. Aamir Khan is magnetic. The colonial-era setting gives cricket genuine political stakes. Its Oscar nomination proved Bollywood could compete on the world stage.
The Film
Lagaan is a Bollywood epic about Indian villagers who challenge their British colonial rulers to a cricket match — if they win, their taxes are forgiven for three years. At nearly four hours, it is the most ambitious sports film ever made, combining musical numbers, romance, political allegory, and genuinely thrilling cricket sequences. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Fun Facts
The cricket match in the film's climax takes over 45 minutes of screen time.
Aamir Khan trained in cricket for months to look like a convincing village batsman.
It was only the third Indian film ever nominated for an Academy Award.
The film took over a year to shoot, largely due to weather delays in the desert location.
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