Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has shared his admiration for the classic film Lagaan as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Tendulkar also reminisced about assisting director Ashutosh Gowariker in capturing the authentic sound of a cricket crowd for the movie. Reflecting on his personal connection with Lagaan, Tendulkar mentioned how his son Arjun Tendulkar would watch the film daily after playing cricket with friends.
The former cricketer recalled a conversation with Gowariker before the movie’s release, where he suggested recording the crowd noise during a match at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium. Tendulkar praised the film’s music by A R Rahman, particularly highlighting the song “O Paalanhaare” for its calming effect. He also commended the entire team behind Lagaan, including Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker, expressing surprise at how quickly 25 years have passed since the film’s premiere.
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and starring Aamir Khan, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was released in 2001 and remains a significant milestone in Indian cinema. The story, set in 1893, revolves around a courageous village farmer named Bhuvan who challenges British officers to a game of cricket to alleviate his village from heavy taxes. The film’s global success was highlighted by its nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards, making it only the third Indian film to achieve this recognition.
