Review of the film : Lagaan

 Review of the film : " Lagaan "

15th August, On the occasion of the Independence Day. In the Department of English we have a film screening of "Lagaan". we watched this movie not as for Entertainment but we try to look and understand deeply the Metaphors and Structure of  the film. This Film can be Interpreted in many ways. This Film breaks all Matanarratives. This film has same structure as all other Films.

   This  film can be interpreted and analysis in many ways like :

● Post colonialism

● Indianness

● Patriarchy

● Religion

● Nationalism

● Cricket as Metaphor

● Subaltern

● Rural India

● Feminism

● Teamwork and Leadership
● Goodness of Britishers
● Comparison of Lakha and Elizabeth
● Language
● Dance style

   

● Plot : 

Plot of the film is based on Religion context. It is based on Radha , Krishna and Rukmani. So here Radha compared with Elizabeth, Krishna compared with Bhuvan and Rukmani compared with Gauri. But here Bhuvan never fall in love with Elizabeth. He only loves Gauri. So Here is  slight diffence between Krishna and Bhuvan. Elizabeth loves Bhuvan and decide to not marry anyone. Elizabeth is like Radha.So the Base of the film is Religion. 

1) Rural India :

The Base of the film is the problems of the rural people.This film based on life  of Village people. It is the story of the farmers who facing many problems due to less rain.They Manipulate by the Britishers and the king of Chapaner. Even in the last many years rain is  not coming though they have to pay double text. It shows the condition of the lower cast people. They are badly treated by the Britishers. No one cares about their condition and problems. 

2) Indianness :

Indianness is  the force which gives strength to the village people. In the film there are many things happens through which we find the Indianness in the film.

● Yoga : 

 Yoga is the symbol of Indianness. In this film shows Bhuvan and other Cricket team members doing yoga for the fitness of their health.

● Temple Bell : 

when the ball hits to Bell of Temple it significe the agreement of the God to play the game. It is also the symbol of hope. 

●  Castism :

In the film shows Castism. The character of Kachara who consider as Untouchable.  No body wants that he play the game. Everyone insults him because he belongs to the lower cast. But later on Bhuvan trys to give the example from Ramayana. He tells about Rama and Shabri. so later on Kachara playing the cricket. He played an important role to win the game.

3) Religion :

Religion is the main force who leads the plots forward. it is the powerful force and played very important role in the film.

● Food : 

King denied to eat meat because he is vegetarian. because of denied to eat meat British Soldier tells him to pay double text.

● Religion Based on Fear : 

   Film focused on the Radha krishna. Whenever villager feeling hopeless they pray to the God. psychology of Religion says that Religion is based on the fear whenever people feel fear and hopeless he / she starting pray to God. so like this when Village people feel fear of loss from Britishers they staring prayer to God.

● Oneness in Religion : 

The film is free from Religious conflict. In this film shows Oneness of Religion. In the village there are many Religion's people like  Muslim , Shikh and Hindu. They all live happly with each other.

● Myths : 

Religion plays important role to change the mindset of people towards Kachara. Myths plays important role to change the mindset of people.  Bhuvan  gives example of Shabri and Lord Rama and trys to make understand others to accept Kachara. So Bhuvan used the myth of Ramayana.

4) Team Work and Leadership :

Be a leader is not an easy task you have to gone through many problems. No body accept your point of view to looking the things. Leader has always different view to look the things. He has optimist way to see the things. So same things happens with Bhuvan ( Amir Khan ). Bhuvan looks things differently. He thinks that victory in the cricket match leads his village people towards bright future. But nobody understands his point. He facing many problems and humiliation during making the Cricket team but he never takes his steps back.

Qualities of Leader : 

•Honesty and Integrity

•Confidence 

•Inspire others 

•Commitment and Passion 

•Positive attitude 

•Creativity 

•Inspire others

•Empathy 

So these are the Quality of the leader. Bhuvan has all these Qualities. Heis  honest. He take the decision to play cricket not for only himself but for all villagers. He has also confidence that they can play the cricket and win the match. He also trys to inspire others villagers to play cricket. He wants to win the match. He has passion  to win the match. He has positive attitude. He also trys to looking things positively. He thinks that if they can win the match they should not pay text for three years. He also inspire many people to play the games. He not loose his hope during humiliated by villagers. He trys to involve others villagers.

He has also quality of Empathy.

● Teamwork : 

In the cricket team all the players have their own Qualities. All are different from each other. All have  their own way to play cricket. But though they all have their own ways they played  together. They encourage each other. Because of the teamwork Bhuvan and his team become successful to win the Cricket match.

5) Post Colonialism : 

The Film is based on Post colonialism. In the film Britishers ruled over Chapaner. The king of Chapaner doesn't speak anything. King also forced by British solder Captain Russell to eat the meat and when king denied he tells him to pay double text. So king is normally is the symbol of strength and power. But here he is under the Britishers.

   Village people are forced to play the Cricket by Britishers. So they have not option in except to play the game. Britishers forced to play cricket because they have mastery in the cricket and they think that these village people can't win.

   The character of Elizabeth who is British. she helps villagers to play the game. it shows post colonialism. Village people wins the match with the help of British lady. If Elizabeth not teaches villagers about cricket it becomes difficult for them to win the match.

6) Metaphor of Cricket : 

Cricket is the Metaphor of Post colonialism. In this film it also seen as the symbol of fear and freedom. All the villagers don't know how to play the cricket. if they loose in the match they have to pay three times more text. but it is also symbol of hope and freedom. if they win the match they should not pay text for three years so they have bright future ahead.  Cricket is normality metaphor of  post colonialism because to get the freedom they  have to play cricket which is not known by any Villagers. But villagers defeat Britishers in their own Game .

7 ) Patriarchy: 

In the film shows the patriarchal power.  In the whole film shows that only  males can play the cricket. Females not get any importance  in the game.

when Gauri wants to play the cricket her father told her to check that water is boiling or not. so she has no any freedom to play cricket. so Indian women have to do household works only. In the other side  Queen Elizabeth ruled over England. It shows that women power. In film also Elizabeth teaching all Males how to play the cricket. so with the help of the Elizabeth they can understand the Game. So in this way in some  ways Women empowerment shows in the film.

8) Subaltern : 

Subaltern means  someone with a low ranking in a social, political, or other hierarchy. It can also mean someone who has been marginalized or oppressed. In the film King is Subaltern under Britishers. Villagers Subaltern under Britishers and King of Chapaner. Kachara is Subaltern under the high cast people of village. women is Subaltern under men. so this way Subaltern seen in every social form in society.

9) Comparison of Lakha and Elizabeth : 

Lakha and Elizabeth has same thing that they both has break their loyalty. Lakha going against his village people. Elizabeth going against her brother. Both have different intention.

Elizabeth helps villagers because she thinks that her brother doing injustice with villagers. so she decide to help them. she has Good intentions.On the other side Lakha has bad intention. He wants that Bhuvan humiliated by villagers. Lakha loves Gauri but Gauri loves Bhuvan so for getting her love. He trys to humiliated Bhuvan.So He takes the side of the  Britishers.

10) Good side of Britisher : 

● Fair play : Honest Umpire 

In the film also shows Good side of Britishers.  They appointed Honest Umpire. It  shows the fair justice towards villagers. Britishers can wining the match but because of Umpire declares no boll so because of it villagers can win the match. it shows the fair play of Britishers who appointed honest Umpire.

● Appreciate Both team : 

During the match Britishers appreciate both the team. They not attached with their team. They critically observe the match. They not take personally the things.

● Elizabeth: 

Elizabeth helps the Village people to understand and learn the Cricket . She going against her own Brother. She thinks that her brother doing injustice with village people. So it shows the good side of Elizabeth because his intentions are good. She helps the villager to learn the game.

11) Dance Style : 

In the film we can see two different styles of Dance. Villagers dance is free from any rules. They can dance the way they likes. They can freely dance.

On the other side Britishers have their own style. They have appropriate manner in dance. They can not freely dance the way they like.They have to follow particular manner and attitude while dancing.

12) Language : 

        In the film English consider as high class language because it only used by Britishers and King. Lower class people don't understand this language. On the other side Hindi language is not only used by villagers but it also used by some British people. Barrier of language feels when Elizabeth wants to tells Bhuvan that she loves him. but she can't tell because she doesn't know how to translate it into Hindi.  Bhuvan and other village people don't understand English during Elizabeth is explaining  about the  cricket. So everyone suffering from not knowing the other language.

So the film has these different perspective. It helps to look the same thing with the different ways. This thing comes from deeper thinking and deeper understanding.  It helps to understand the things which shown in the film. 

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