Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Page #3

Forgive them, Captain Russell.

They've come to me with their problems.

Their lot is sad.

And this boy is an innocent.

He's not so innocent...

It was you in the jungle, wasn't it?

All right.

We'll decide this after the game.

Leave him.

Come on, chaps.

Back to the game.

We'll talk after the game.

As you wish, Your Highness.

Well done, Smith.

Well done.

Long live Your Highness.

All right, Headman.

What's the matter?

You know there's been no rain

so far, Your Highness.

If we can live on what we have

this year...

...we may just be able to get by.

So, our liege lord!

We've come to plead with you...

Cancel our Lagaan this year.

You are like our father!

Listen, Headman.

I can understand

what you are all going through.

But... my hands are tied as well.

These Feringhees won't spare

even their own kin.

You'll have to pay double Lagaan.

We'll die of hunger!

- We'll starve!!

Problem, Your Highness?

These farmers have brought a petition.

And that is?

They want to be excused from

paying Lagaan this year.

I told them it's not possible.

But... it is possible.

How?

I will tell you.

All right. I'll cancel the tax.

But... there is a condition.

Condition!

What condition, Sahib?

You...

Come here.

What was that you said

about our game?

What did he say?

Yes... A silly stupid game.

What do you know about this game?

We've played it since we were children.

We call it Gilli-Danda.

And you... who knows what

you call it.

Cricket!

So you mean to say

you can play this cricket?

Yes... it's easy.

All right.

I'll cancel the Lagaan...

But you must defeat us in the game.

The condition is...

You beat us at this game and

you won't have to pay Lagaan.

I'm serious.

You beat us in this game...

...and I'll cancel your tax.

But if you lose...

You'll have to pay triple tax,

that is three times the Lagaan.

All right?

Tell me. You accept the wager?

Sir, I think the cat's

got his tongue.

Quiet.

All right. I will raise the stakes.

If you defeat us in this game...

...I'll cancel not only this year's

Lagaan but next year's as well.

Do you accept?

Bhuvan!

Don't say anything.

Don't say a word.

- Yes, just be silent.

All right.

I'll raise the bet even higher.

Not just one year...

I'll cancel Lagaan for the next

two years. That means three years!

And not just for you

but for the whole province.

Now do you accept?

He's digging a pit

to bury us in, Bhuvan.

Chief, you speak up now.

- Yes, Chief, you speak.

Sahib!

Shut up!

You tell me.

Will you pay double Lagaan?

Or do you accept the bet?

I accept the bet.

Did he agree?

- Yes, he did.

All right.

So it's decided... the game will be

played after three months.

This'll kill us, Your Highness!

- We will die!

This is unfair.

So's life.

No Lagaan if you win.

But if you lose...

We have to pay thrice the amount!

And this Bhuvan here agreed

to this impossible condition!

What have you done, Bhuvan!?

From double to triple!

Total ruin!

I told you there could be

a great calamity, didn't I?

Was there any choice?

I ask you, did we have a choice?

What else could we do?

Isn't double Lagaan unjust?

Are we strong enough to pay it?

Tell me, can anyone here pay it?

This isn't a calamity, Chief.

It's an opportunity. A chance.

I didn't accept out of bravado.

You have to get burnt

to save your home from fire.

I know we are weak.

But this way, we have hope.

And I want to turn this hope

into reality.

This game is for our fields

and harvest.

Have you forgotten? If we win,

we'll be happy for three years.

Three years...

Just think.

No Lagaan for three years.

You know what that means?

It means our grain will be ours.

Only ours.

Not a grain to be given to anyone.

The welfare of our children,

our entire village, is in this.

Our sweat will run as blood

in our veins.

Marvellous!

Small eyes dreaming

such big dreams!

Yes, Arjan, I have a dream.

And only those who dream

can make them come true.

Isar Kaka,

three months is time enough.

We can learn the game

and defeat them too.

Even a whole year's hitting with

a stick won't teach you...

...this Whitey game!

I know the game isn't easy, Lakha.

But, Chief, it's not impossible either.

I want all of you to be with me.

Nobody in the village will be

with you in your madness!

But, Ismayeel...

- Enough is enough!

We've only one hope now.

We'll all go to Rajaji once again

and beg him to save us.

What are you thinking, Mai?

About what happened today, son.

I swear on you, Mai!

I did what was right.

I feel rage in my heart

when I pay Lagaan to the Raja...

And he gives it to those Whiteys

with their dirty grasping hands!

You tell me, Mai.

Who ploughs this earth

to sow the seeds?

We do.

Who waters it?

We do.

Why should we fill their coffers

with our produce?

The White Sahib said Lagaan

may be cancelled for three years.

How could I remain silent, Mai?

Tell me, should I have stayed mute?

What are you looking at, Mai?

You talk just like your father.

He was so spirited.

And he spoke the truth.

Well, go and sleep now.

Don't let this burden your heart.

Gauri! What are you doing here?

I came to meet you.

To... to tell you I am with you.

I have faith... in you

and in your courage.

That's all I came to say.

Bhuvan Bhaiyya, I lost my gilli.

Make me another.

What's this?

I'll tell you.

It's not at all difficult, Tipu.

Whiteys play it wearing pants

and call it Kirkut.

And we wear loincloths

and call it Gilli-Danda. Get it?

Our fathers and grandfathers have

been playing Gilli-Danda.

Go over there...

Back... further back.

A little more... stop.

Now catch the ball, okay.

Catch it properly, Tipu.

Come on, toss it to me.

I'll show you.

Saw that?

It's very easy.

Why, even you can learn it.

This game is just like

Gilli-Danda.

Catch it now...

Very good!

What a catch! What a catch!

Well done, Tipu.

Isn't it easy?

Now throw the ball.

I'll show you how to hit it.

Wow! That's some throw!

You do that so well, Tipu!

Hey, Gauri, pass it to me.

Hey, Gauri! What're you doing?

Go heat the water.

Take it, Tipu.

Now watch me this time.

It's very easy.

Damn! The stick slipped.

Oh! My hands are sweaty.

This should do the trick.

Okay, Tipu, throw.

And don't feel bad...

But I'll give it

a real hard whack this time.

A real hard whack, ha!

Wow!

Hey, Bagha, throw the ball.

Can I say something, father?

- What?

I feel that Bhuvan is doing

the right thing.

All right, all right.

Go see if the water is boiling.

That's it, Bagha.

Hit it hard.

Oh, very well done, Bagha!

Bhuvan, I am also with you...

like Bagha.

Who are all these people, father?

Ramprasad and Namdeo.

Headmen ofTantpura and Bhind.

But with so many people...!

Who is Bhuvan here?

- That's Bhuvan.

There he is!

Stop, Ramprasad.

Think of the village

code of honour.

I've no quarrel with your village.

I must teach that cocky Bhuvan

of yours a lesson.

Why should we suffer for

what he's done?

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