Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, or simply Lagaan, (transl. Land tax) is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language epic period musical sports drama film written and directed by
Ashutosh Gowariker. The film was produced by
Aamir Khan, who stars alongside debutant
Gracy Singh and British actors
Rachel Shelley and
Paul Blackthorne. Set in 1893, during the late Victorian period of British colonial rule in India, the film follows the inhabitants of a village in Central India, who, burdened by high taxes and several years of drought, are challenged by an arrogant British Indian Army officer to a game of cricket as a wager to avoid paying the taxes they owe. The villagers face the arduous task of learning a game that is alien to them and playing for a victory. Produced on a budget of ₹25 crore (US$5.3 million), Lagaan was the most expensive Indian film at t...
()