Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (लगान)

The year is 1893.

Champaner.

A small village in the heart of India.

The people of Champaner depended on agriculture

like those in thousands of villages.

A British cantonment bordered the village.

Two miles south, beyond the cantonment, was the fort of the king of this province.

The British protected the king's domain from neighboring attacks.

They also promised the other kings protection from this king.

Thanks to this double-dealing,

the British collected tax from those kings

and the king of Champaner, too.

Lagaan.

A portion of the farmer's harvest, like wheat, pearl millet,

and rice, was handed over to the king as a tax.

Every king collected tax from villages under his rule.

The king would keep one share

and give the rest to the British.

In this way, the British control strengthened itself.

Like thousands of villages across the country,

the farmers of Champaner toiled on empty bellies

and paid taxes to the king every year.

Last year it rained, but very little.

And this year, there has been no rain so far.

Dry eyes scan the sky.

What do you keep looking at up there?

Just wondering when the sky will darken with clouds.

How I long for the rains!

A month of the monsoon season has gone by without a drop of rain.

Coming, coming.

By God's grace, at least we have drinking water,

else we'd be parched to the bone.

-Such are His ways. -Yes.

The fields are barren. How will the grains ripen?

Don't lose heart, Hari.

If the sky doesn't bless us, we'll dig into the earth.

We'll reach deep into the earth for water.

This is what I told Bhuvan.

Where is he?

He's been out somewhere since this morning.

It's time to eat. Send him home if you see him.

-Yes. -You pests. I'll wring your necks.

Oh, no. The Great Chicken War again.

Goli's darn kids.

See if I don't ram you down a gun barrel.

Morons. Who do you think you are?

Get lost, Bhura.

Hey, you wretch. Come here, I'll show you.

-Wait right there. -Come on.

-I'll put you in bed for days. -How dare you hit my kids?

I'll hang them upside down by a tree and burn chilis under them.

They're hassling my hens. And you?

You behave, else I'll burn your slingshot.

-Is that so? -Stop it now.

You two are worse than cats and dogs.

But his boys are after my hens.

Stop acting like they're being molested.

Your hens aren't getting married.

They're only kids. Goli, control your kids.

Tell me, have you seen Bhuvan?

-No. You seen him, Bhura? -No.

Why?

Left, right, left...

Scumbags!

Sons of jackals.

Strutting around in the heat.

One day, you will all return to your little island,

where you came from.

May the mighty hands of fate ruin you.

Guran, why bother reading their fortune?

They won't even care. Read my fortune.

Tell me. Will I get the prince of my dreams?

Why not?

If you truly love him, then he's the one you'll find.

You'll be his bride.

-Really? You heard that, Jigni? -Yes.

But...

But what?

I see an obstacle.

What obstacle? Tell me quickly.

Later.

Read my fortune.

What is it, Uncle?

-Was Guran telling your fortune? -No.

-Yes. -He's crazy.

No clue about the present and he babbles about the future!

No, Uncle Hari. He's not crazy.

You forgot about sister-in-law Durga?

She was childless for nine years. Then Guran said she'd have a son.

And wasn't Somu born? Take Kesariya, for example--

All right, all right. That lunatic is not crazy.

Now, tell me. Have you seen Bhuvan?

No, but I know where he'll be.

Amazing.

So, our little girl keeps tabs on him?

Lakha, what is it to you?

I see. This concerns me and I'm not to open my mouth?

Why don't you wear wedding bangles for me?

-Lakha, what nonsense is this? -I really mean it.

You've grown old and Gauri here doesn't care for me.

Here, look at this. Look.

-See how badly hurt I am. -Hurt?

It's my father you need, not me.

-Father. -What is it?

Lakha has a cut on his hand.

He seems to cut his hand more than the wood.

What can I do, Uncle Isar? I'm always wounding myself...

very badly.

Uncle, I'll go fetch Bhuvan.

Listen, if you see him, tell him his mother's waiting for him.

Yes, I'll tell him.

One.

Two.

Three.

From there.

One.

Drop the stone.

Now I understand...

why I missed five times.

You, a protector of animals, are you?

He's a farmer from Champaner.

Next time, you'll be the target.

King Puran Singh Chawla is waiting for you at the cantonment.

Why are you screaming your head off?

I was looking for you. I couldn't see you.

-Was I lying dead somewhere? -How should I know?

God. What am I saying?

Why are you so angry?

Never mind. What do you want?

-I've got something to tell you. -What?

Sit down first.

So, tell me.

Guran read my fortune today.

What's the misfortune?

How rude! I'm won't tell you.

All right, tell me.

Come on.

Guran said

I'll put henna on my hands this year.

I mean, get married.

Wow.

That's great news.

You'll be dancing with joy. Who's the boy?

How would I know?

Guran didn't tell me that.

But one thing is certain:

The house I marry into will have a margosa tree in the courtyard.

A big field next to the house,

two cows, a pair of ox

and three goats.

Guran said my home will be a little paradise.

How wonderful! You're really lucky.

Lucky? You call this lucky?

Paradise for a home. What more do you want?

Lord knows what'll happen.

Tell me one thing, Bhuvan.

-What kind of girl do you like? -Girl?

l will only like the girl whom my mother likes.

-The one your mother likes? -Yes.

-Oh, God. -What happened?

I came to tell you

that mother's waiting for you at home.

You remember this now?

You sit here. I'm going.

Bhuvan, I'm sorry.

King.

How did your hunt go?

The British are the best when it comes to hunting.

-Right? -Absolutely.

-But I'm worried. -About what?

When all the game is finished

whom will your guns target next?

We're fortunate that you came to visit us.

But I don't know the reason.

I've brought a request on behalf of my subjects.

A request?

Your Highness, I present to you my dear sister Elizabeth.

She arrived last night from London.

Elizabeth, His Highness Puran Singh Chawla of Champaner.

It's my good fortune to meet you.

King, she doesn't know Hindi.

King.

Well, King, I'm at your service.

For the last three years,

my people haven't worshipped at the Siddheshwar temple.

They believe...

that worshipping there will end the hardships they faced last year.

-But-- -But the temple is in the land

ruled by King Diler Singh, your cousin and your enemy.

And your dear friend.

I'm sure if you speak to Diler Singh, he won't refuse.

No, thank you. I'm a shakahari.

What do you think, Captain Russell? Is it possible?

Your work might be done.

There's one condition.

Condition?

Yes, tell me.

You eat this meat and I'll talk to Diler Singh.

A vegetarian.

Just one piece of meat.