Lagaan stars Aamir Khan, Gracey Singh, Rachel Shelley, and Paul Blackthorne.#

This was a great movie. Interesting story, some nice dance scenes, good acting, a bit of excitement. And I now understand cricket. My only complaint is not so much about the movie, but about the Indian attitude towards the British.#

In the movie, some villagers are upset about having to pay a double Lagaan (land tax) when there has been no rain that year. The cocky British commander of the area says they will not have to pay for three years if they beat his team in cricket, but if they lose they must pay three times the normal amount.

The villagers complain about how these taxes are horrible, and presumably this is an indication a larger sentiment about the British Raj. I find this laughable given the situation with the Mughal rulers, who continued to tax the people during the British Raj, and given the situation after the British left when an oppressive socialist government held back the country's growth.

Also, there is a ridiculous insinuation that the commander would have enough money to pay the Lagaan for the villagers if he loses. (His commanding offer did not approve of the bet.)

Recommendation: High#