Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Page #6

take you into his team!

Now catch this.

Look, Bhuvan...

It's not just your honour at stake,

it's the whole village.

I'm ashamed of all the things

I said the other day.

I swear by God, I am with you

in this effort.

It's the word of a man of prayer.

What a beautiful thing to say!

Ismayeel has raised our spirit,

hasn't he.

Who can stop us now!

With a procession of

elephants and horses...

Raise a cry of victory

to Lord Krishna.

What are you looking at, Memsahib?

These statues.

Whose images are these?

This is the temple of

Radha and Krishna.

They are statues of

Lord Krishna and Radha.

Today is Krishna's birthday.

So the idols are decorated.

It's very beautiful.

Were they husband and wife?

Oh, no, Memsahib.

Krishna was married to Rukmini

and Radha married Anay.

But the deep love they had for

each other has set an ideal.

It's like the dewdrop

on a lotus leaf...

...not united nor separated.

They have been worshipped

together from aeons.

Let's go.

If Krishna were to meet

a lovelorn Gopi in the grove

And then smile and talk

and even tease her

How can Radha

be not jealous!

How can Radha

be not jealous!

For her body and heart

are on fire

Even if Krishna were to meet

a lovelorn Gopi in the grove

It's only the flower of Radha's love

that blooms in his heart

Then why is Radha jealous?

With no thought or reason

Why is Radha jealous?

All the Gopis are but stars

Radha is the moon

Why is her faith

then so half-hearted?

Faithless Krishna is forever

looking hither and thither

Then how can poor Radha

believe in herself.

Gopis come and go

but Radha queens over his heart

Dawn and dusk

by theJamuna's banks

It's only Radha

that Krishna calls out to

If someone garlands Krishna

with her entwined arms

How can Radha

be not jealous!

Her body and heart

are on fire

How can Radha

be not jealous?

If Radha is enshrined

in Krishna's heart

Why doesn't he then tell her so?

Love has its own language

its own expression

Let the eyes speak

Such is Krishna's sweet wish

These eyes of yours, O Krishna!

They destroy the peace

of many a Gopi's heart

She meets your eyes

and is lost in love

Even if she be

the fairest damsel

If love for Krishna

ripens in a Gopi's heart

Why is Radha jealous?

How can Radha

be not jealous!

Gauri, you sing and dance beautifully!

Elizabeth, this is

Lieutenant Edward Wesson.

This is Lieutenant Richard North.

How do you do?

- Charmed, I'm sure.

Excuse me. Sir, there's a villager

outside you have to speak with.

Not now.

Tomorrow, in the office.

Sir, he says he has some important

information about the match.

Excuse me.

Long live our Protector.

What's the news you want

to give me?

Bhuvan is building up

his team, Sahib. But...

But what?

Spare my life, Sahib!

But a White Memsahib

from here teaches them the game.

White Memsahib...!?

Yes, Sahib.

I saw it with my own eyes today.

She also came to attend

the puja at our temple today.

Is the White Memsahib among them?

There she is.

You are not making a mistake, are you?

Hang me on the cross

if I've made a mistake.

She is the one,

I swear on my mother!

So you too are in the team.

No, Sahib.

As if I'm crazy like Bhuvan...

...to challenge the might of

the government!

Why are you telling me all this?

Only the slaughtered beast knows

the agony of the knife, Master.

And I am being cut from inside.

Just say that my victory

lies in Bhuvan's defeat.

What is your name?

Your name?

Lakha, Sahib.

Lakha, you do this.

You join Bhuvan's team.

What are you saying, Sahib!

You will be in Bhuvan's team.

But you will work for me.

I understand, Sahib.

Yes, Andrew, what is it?

So, Eliza,

you've been sightseeing.

How's the countryside?

It's beautiful.

The mountains, the woods, the cattle...

And the villages?

I didn't see any villages.

- My foot, you didn't see any!

You were with the villagers and

what's-his-name teaching them cricket.

You thought I wouldn't come to know?

You have the audacity

to go against your own brother?

Listen to me carefully.

You will not be meeting

those villagers again...

...because you will not be leaving...

...the Cantonment.

Is that understood?

Bloody farmers.

Why're you worried, child?

Our game's improving day by day.

Goli, you throw the ball

with a lot of passion.

Why do you just stand

after hitting, Arjan?

Take off and run.

Bhuvan... Bhaiyya.

Today when I see you all

playing together...

...I am aware of the wrong I did.

I regret it very much.

Can... Can I play with you?

No... you can't play.

Why?

See the game and understand, Lakha.

It's not like chopping wood, you know.

It needs special skills.

What do you say, huh?

Yes, absolutely!

Take Goli now.

He whirls and twirls the ball

like he swings his slingshot!

And our Bhura here.

He pounces on the ball the way

he grabs at his runaway hens.

Arjan has iron hands

from all that hammering.

That's right.

As for Isar Kaka's hands...

If money doesn't slip through them,

what's a mere ball!

And we do need a medicine man

in a game of cuts and bruises.

And who doesn't know

our Bagha's strength!

Tough as teak.

As for this Guran...

Passion runs like a fever

through this possessed loony.

Saturn is strong

and Mars is mighty.

And Ismayeel...

as I remember...

We have always been rivals

in Gilli-Danda.

And I?

Oh, yes. Tipu.

Our Tipu is so bright.

Now, you tell me, Lakha.

What are you good at?

I... I can run very fast.

So... you can run fast.

Okay. Then do one thing.

Let's see you run fast

up the temple steps three times.

Fast, I said. Can you do it?

Okay, Lakha.

Now run.

Don't fall!

Even I can run faster than him!

Bhuvan, don't you ever take him.

There's malice in his heart.

No, Gauri. We need him.

All that chopping of wood has

made his hands tough and strong.

He'll hit the ball really hard.

Come on, run! Yes, run.

He's at least trying, isn't he.

Don't worry. I'll give you

ointment for stiff legs!

Hey, run up the steps!

The fellow is back.

So you saw, Bhuvan?

What do you say?

You run a tad slow, pal.

You have to be faster.

I'll improve, Bhuvan.

I'll run every day.

But take me into the team.

I can't bear the thought of

the village being dishonoured.

What do you all have to say?

- Give him a chance and see.

Okay, let's try him out.

Look, Lakha...

Cheating at games has been

a childhood habit of yours.

What if you try it here too...

What are you saying, Ismayeel!

I'm sorry. Truly sorry, I swear.

Okay, Lakha.

You are in our team.

But remember!

It's a huge responsibility.

For the Whiteys,

it's only a game.

But for us, it's our life!

Yes, Bhuvan.

I am with you.

You will play with this ball from now.

Oh, wow!

Memsahib, your support has really

lifted our spirits. Thank you.

Goli will inaugurate this ball.

Forget the ball now.

You must all eat first.

It's to fill our bellies that we

must practise so hard, Gauri.

We'll play first.

Come on, all of you.

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