LAGAAN : 11 Years of THE epic

Its time. Again. 

Its the LAGAAN anniversary. 11 years and still, the impact is so strong, this, has to be the best movie in my entire life. And how, can I break this ritual, to post about LAGAAN on its release day?? The ritual, that is started by the biggest fan of the film - theBollywoodFan.

This time, I won't go much in detail but recommendation to watch and read The Spirit of LAGAAN. One of the very first in history of Indian cinema, and undoubtedly the BEST of the lot. Written and Directed by Satyajit Bhatkal (yes the same guy who's directing Satyamev Jayate). The book and the documentary are undoubtedly, rare gems that you must keep in your collections.

Putting up in few words, the book itself is so absorbing that in the first chapter itself, it made me cry - I was so overwhelmed by the fact, the description of how the premiere took place at a small theatre in city of Bhuj, Gujarat. How the rains started when they won the match. Oh man, I can go on with my gibberish write up, but DO NOT miss this book. Even if you are not a bookworm. (Please do read this 'gignatic' write up on the book by Ashwin Kumar)

And, the documentory. Chale Chalo : The Lunacy of Film Making The story, behind the greatest story ever told. From the concept stage, to the climax, and then after. Satyajit Bhatkal documents everything on screen so seamlessly, that it feels like you are living the story. And after watching this, you fall in love with the LAGAAN all over again. More and more. Need more recommendation? Here's a post by theBollywoodFan, to convince you more. 

Tell me your own experiences with these two masterpieces. 

And, here are my old posts celebrating this epic :

Lagaan - History Revisited

Lagaan - Legend Revisited

What a Climax : LAGAAN

LAGAAN : Looking back to the year 2001

LAGAAN : Looking back to the year 2001

10 years. Can't believe its been ten years- a decade. When I got awed by something that I watched on screen. What kept on playing in my ears. And what I saw inside the cinema halls. That was LAGAAN. Way back in the year 2001 - one of the finest years Indian cinema has witnessed.

I can remember how Aamir had kept Lagaan miles away from media and publicity. Nobody knew much about the movie except few things like it was shot in Gujarat's deserted area of Kutch. That its story was set in years when English ruled the country. [Another movie about Freedom movement I thought] I was studying my engineering back then. Many people don’t understand how time-consuming engineering education is. ;-D I was completely disconnected with TV then. You won't believe but I hardly could watch TV because I was living alone as a PG [though the family I lived with, insisted that I can go and watch TV anytime, but somehow I resisted myself]. So for me - nothing but word of mouth was the only source [and local newspapers] for information about Lagaan. On one fine day I heard the first promo has come out, Kaisa hoga promo? kaisi hogi Gauri? [mad mad]. Someone told promo is very short. Just a bunch of rapidly moving frames with Big B telling 'Lagaan - Sau saal pehle ki ik aisi kahaani, jo itihaas ke panno mein kahin kho gayi thi' - whooo! Bachchan? [I do not like him 'that' much, u know]. But yes, he has that voice. my excitement was on its peak. I was counting days to the vacation. [the 'reading vacation' just before the exams] that I can go home and watch all happenings one by one.

And then the day came.

What a Climax ! : LAGAAN

As LAGAAN is celebrating its 9th Anniversary, here is my post for LAGAAN week, going on at blog-world of Bolly Bloggers. Initiated by theBollywoodFan.

Yes, I'm a proud -

Warning: Do not read this post, if you [STILL] hasn't seen this movie, coz the post is total spoiler.

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10 Thousand Actors ! Camels, Bullock carts, Elephants, Horses, and a crew that dedicated six months of their lives for the start to finish schedule in a desert - get all these together and you will get the greatest climax in History of India Cinema : LAGAAN

I always get confused when I need to write something about great movies like this. [Can not find proper words to describe, and there the pictures come as help.So, the post is naturally picture heavy. ] If you have read book - The Spirit of LAGAAN, you must have known how tough the shoot of this climax was. [Chapter 10 : Ten Thousand Actors]. Aamir / Ashutosh could have gone for VFX, but No, this is Aamir's movie. So it has got to be perfect in every way. Must read the book how all this became possible with efforts of each and every crew members.

Edge of the seat climax starts at 313 runs....

Bollywood in Gujarat

Gujarat - the western state of India, is turning 50 today. After independence, only one state was formed in Western India-Bombay. Which in 1960-got parted and Maharashtra+Gujarat were born.

Sometimes I feel GRrrrrrRRr... that Bombay went to Maharashtra :P cause its the home to Hindi film industry which I die for. Sigh... but that was done for good. Anyways, I am not going to discuss those things here. Here, I will always blabber about films and more films. So, here I'm presenting connection between Bollywood and Gujarat. Well, kind of. Because Gujarat has given many many great talents to Hindi cinema, but here I'm discussing about some great movies shot in my state. [yes yes, your guess is right - I'm gonna start with LAGAAN :p ]

LAGAAN : [sau saal pehle ki ek aisi kahani....] oops, well, can't resist. The dialogue from 'the' Bachchan always echoes in my mind when I write or speak that word. OK, getting back. The epic, the legend was completely shot at Bhuj, Kutch district. Not a single movie can beat such management, such fantastic visuals which were filmed at a desert ! nothing can & nothing will match the awesomeness of the movie. I'm so proud and lucky to have this movie shot here and also me visiting the location. [more here - 1 2 ] was the lifetime experience.

Refugee : Moving little bit ahead from that location, we have Khavda. The place where visually beautiful Refugee was shot by J P Dutta. Beautiful white deserts [salt desert] was really interesting to see on big screen. [ah, but always running Abhishek was an eyesore for sure :P]

Road, Movie : Talking about beautiful picturisations, recent Abhay Deol movie had great visuals of the white desert. Add beautiful Tanishtaa Chaterjee, the result was awesome. I have been there in salt deserts of Kutch, and believe me, its a sight you can never forget. Here's me in the picture.

Magdheera : Ahem, yes, I haven't watched the movie yet, but yes, that too is filmed here. And for that only reason, i m going to watch it soon. Cause visuals are fantastic in these pictures.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam : This is the movie which was fully based on Gujarati. Shot at Gujarat's locations. Sanjay Bhansali himself being a Gujarati, has brilliantly created beauty of my state on screen. Shot at Bhuj and Gondal, the pair Aisalman, made it more lovely.

Manthan & Mirch Masala : Dusky and talented beauty Smita Patil's two fantastic movies. Former told story behind the biggest milk revolution called - Amul. Movie was directed by Shyam Benegal. While Ketan Mehta's Mirch Masala told story of fierce lady Sonbai. Rural Gujarat was captured beautifully in both movies.

Guide : yet another legend. Most of the parts were shot in Rajasthan, but the village where Raju comes after jail, was in Gujarat. The drought scenes were actually shot in Limdi, Saurashtra, Gujarat. There was a drought in the state at that time. And when the movie got released, it was advertised as 'Guide prays for rain' and it went on to become a huge success.

Mother India : See, all great movies has a link in them-Gujarat. Lagaan, Guide and now this. Yes, this was fully shot at Chikhli, a south Gujarat village. And this is the land where both Nargis and Sunil Dutt fell in love with each other.

Phew, there can be many more. For example dark movies like Parzania, Dev and Firaaq where filmed here, but rather disturbing visuals were there. But right now its time to rejoice, time to celebrate 'Swarnim Gujarat' [Golden Gujarat] so, I would end this post on a happy note. A favorite song which also was filmed here. At Vadodara - a childhood favorite place - toy train [see song from 3:11 ] Shammi ji....

Lagaan : Legend Revisited

"Lagaan : Sau Saal Pehle Ki ek aisi kahaani, Jo Itihaas ke pannon mein kahi kho gayi thi.." The baritone was echoing in my mind, as I was walking through the soil, the dust and the sands of Champaner. Yes, the village Kunariya where the movie, the legend was shot in the year 2000. My yet Another uncertain journey as always..this time stopped at 'the' place where 'the' Legend was written.

[As I watched Lagaan on next day of its release, i.e.16th June, 2001; Here is its Anniversary Special on same day, 2009]

It was a Friday, when I just completed reading The Spirit of Lagaan - the book written by Satyajit Bhatkal on making of Lagaan. An extraordinary tale of how this larger than life world was captured in the movie. So, after reading it, naturally I put up my disc and started watching the movie. And then suddenly, got idea, why not go to the place and celebrate the anniversary a little earlier? Its about 400kms away from my city. So instantly I called up my friend who lives in Bhuj, instantly got my tickets of Bus service which I boarded late night and voila!! I was in Bhuj very next morning. Took my friend's Bike, and went away, to discover the village. [I even couldn't find it on Wikimapia, nobody had marked it, but I did it later. See it here]

But the task was so easy. So easily I found the village because of very good road connectivity. Which was absent 10 years back, when Ashutosh took a great chance of setting up whole world in the desert. So there I was in village Kunariya, 20 kms away from the city Bhuj. There I was, in my Mecca, in my Amarnath, in my Chardham, whatever you say, it was the moment to cherish. And what did I find??

There was no hills and mountains visible as in the movie. I panicked. [and my i-pod was playing...Tu Aaja Re.....Mitwa..] And thank God, someone was walking on the deserted way, I stopped him and asked about where was the shooting place? I knew he must had the answer. As so many villagers were included too. And he instantly show me the way. And so accurately he guided me, in flat 10 minutes, I was there....at Champaner.


Still I had doubts. Cause there was so much of sand on the soil, and I knew this was not it. And there, came my saviour, in form of a tractor driver [heck, i should have clicked him]. And he gently asked me, how on earth I am here in this desert? [gora chitta ladka, in this hot desert - though it was only 9.30am] I asked him about the shoot..and heck...'He did participated in it !!!!' Yes, he said, I had worked to raise the village, the homes of characters!! And there, he pointed out at this - a huge rubble of cement floor structure. And that too, was behind a small hill. And how on earth I could not identify it?? It was the 'Toilet Block'!! Yes, it was. Cause they wanted to hide it, it was created behind this rock hill. And how thankful I was to that man who later shown me the way to go to the main farms where the village was standing?!! He vanished away saying 'you should have come 10 years earlier...' Yes, yes, point taken :-D

So, what a great (!) start, I thought. Though my bike was shouting high, due to absolutely sandy soil. I cut it off. And climbed up the hill. Soon I found this on a rock -

Mind it ! This is not a tourist place where people do come and write crap like this. This WAS from the crew members itself. It is for sure. [and btw, my mom+dad has same initials :P ]

And after reaching at the top of the rocks, I was ready to die. Yes, Yes, It was the moment. I can see the Champaner in front of my eyes. There-was temple, There-was Bhuvan's house, There-was the pitch. Yes, There- Was LAGAAN : Once Upon a Time In India. The same track was playing in my ears.

 

See the first pic above, that's the Lovers' Hill. Where Bhuvan-Gauri romanced [my saviour told me that]. And the third one [I suppose] is the hill where the Temple stood.What a feeling?
And instantly, I remind of following frame from the movie. Yes ! I was standing on the rock where Chale Chalo was filmed !! What eyes Ashutosh has? The view is just wonderful. And just so much perfect for the shoot.

I could only think - what an effort?  What level of passion, How desparate was everyone for making this happen. In just 2 hours, I was getting burnt over my [delicate :P] skin, the heat was on at only 10:30am !! The dust, the sand was getting over me-everywhere from hair to toe. And I thought, what life the crew had lived in 6 months of year 2000?

I was there in month of June. How cruel the nature would be in April and May?? How hot atmosphere eveyone handled 'Playing Cricket on these fields'?????

And then, God sent me another saviour. "Hey Baadal, arrey Baadal Aai Gya Re....." Yes, the clouds were there. Making me little confortable, and vanished in few minutes :) just like the movie. Leaving me alone..in burning rays of Sun.

I searched, searched if I could find just 'anything' related to shoot. But that was insane, Yes I know, but my level of insanity is that only :P But nothing was there left for me. Cause the land is used for farming. And owned by villagers. So no traces were left besides the Toilets :). And that was the reason, I could not go further and further far away near to the hills shown in below. Cause the area is cordened by the farmers, And I too was not willing to disturb them.

I just sat on rocks, cherished each song in burning sun rays. That, was the moment, I would cherish whole my life. I could tell everyone, when they will watch the movie, Yes, I had been there. At the legendary place. Where history was created. Where, determination resulted in a rock solid result. Where each member of the crew, had lived their lifetime. The heat and dust, which made the task un believable, ended up in being an unforgettable part of the movie.

Goodbye Champaner, I'll be back !!

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And there was someone to bid me farewell. Well, have a look.

Later, I returned to Bhuj. And visited majestic palace of Maharo Pragmalji. Which lies in ruins because of 2001 Earthquake.

And, the place Where Salman and Aishwarya took saat phere [yes, seven rounds of marriage]. Well, not in real, but in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The Cenotaphs-below. The structure got major damages in earthquake. One temple is totally vanished.

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And then [as I tweeted] why I did watch Kal Kisne Dekha? Well, How could I let go  my temptation of watchin a movie where LAGAAN was premiered?? Here,,,is SurMandir talkies, where Aamir had arranged first show for villagers / local crew.

There, my day ended with a crap movie, but great feeling of watching movie where Aamir, where the Lagaanites were sitting. Yes, that guy was right I should have come 10 years earlier...

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Related Posts : Lagaan : History Revisited

Lagaan – History Revisited

Note: Click on pictures to get enlarged view.

meanwhile you can see all of this pics and more of them in my THIS album.

After so many posts by theBollywoodFan [I think the biggest fan of Lagaan, I have ever met], I thought I should try my hand at this great flick too. [I know I can't write SUCH good words, like he does]. Also Lagaan being my most favorite movie.

When I commented in tBF's blog, he was so glad to know that I had visited the location of shoot where Lagaan did happen. So I decided to visit the place Again, and this time with a camera [which I forgot last time, and I din't have camera phone too]. And voila, tBF's Birthday was recently. So here, is my birthday gift for you.

So, there, I was. At Mandvi, a very remote place in Kutchh region of Gujarat state of India. Many parts of the shoot was done over here. While the main set of village Champaner was about 50kms away from here, Village Kuneria near district headquarter Bhuj. These days I am working at nearby place. So last weekend, I just packed my bag and alone went to the place. Listening to the songs of nothing but Lagaan and other songs by A R Rehman. Due to security warnings on coastal area [cause Pakistan border is very near], I chose not to go by my vehicle, and went by a bus.

Here, when my iPod started 'Rang de basanti', and at the same time scene outside my window was this -

Then I reached the place, Mandvi, which once upon a time, was a big port. When wooden ships were ruling the seas. Still they are made here
That reminded me of recently watched flick – Evan Almighty –

Then I reached THE place. The Vijay Vilas Palace – 5 kms away from main city. I felt really crazy. Really happy….and so on. I was visiting the place for second time – still the feel was awesome. From main gate, the palace is 1km inside a little kind of jungle. See here. The jungle which was used for the introduction scene of Bhuvan. I din't dare to go beneath that little jungle, as I was alone J

In the movie – its here.

My ipod was still playing Lagaan. I played trick. Turned to the track 'spirit of Lagaan'. When I was about to see the palace. See, how its hiding under bushes and trees

When I saw the peak of palace, my iPod started the track. Amazing feeling it was. The Royal Sound was coming from Rehman. Then I entered there. Its Not as great as many palaces in India, but still it had the 'Lagaan' factor, which feels great. I don't want to talk much about the palace history, as its available on Wiki. But see, its beautiful.

See the movie snapshot -.

Now most of the part of this blog is going to be a photo blog. Just the pics I have taken, and the pics from movie itself. You will recognize them which is from movie and by me, itself.

In the movie,

And without the flowers,

also Lakha is coming that way…

This, and this

The entrance of the palace. Here…
King Pragmalji is looking at his palace, always, as an idol. See here.

While our Reel life king is here. See behind him.

When brother-sister, confrontation happened on the terrace….. This terrace witnessed it all..

The terrace also witnessed Charm of Elizabeth…here.



That terrace was the most favorite place of mine. I played non-stop, the track 'O rey Chhori' while roaming there. Its on height and on two sides of the palace, sea is there. So atmosphere and look is awesome from there.

No drop of rain no glowing flame…

The beautiful dome…
Here,
only thing I missed in the following picture, was – Rachelle. Wished if doors get open, and she comes…

Like this… [the room is locked, visitors are not allowed, as the king still live in there sometimes]
After such hard work..how about a shower….or maybe a fountain ??



Ufff…………tired? Need chairs?? Here are some. But look for Rachelle, she is roaming here too…..

See…I told you ..she's here
Also these chairs used for breakfast…

Here…..

OOOOPSSS……That's me…..[sorry dear Rajaji, but I couldn't resist being part of the history ;-)]

Last three photos were taken inside the palace, where there are antique things are placed. So many of them are there, but my hard luck was – there was some power failure , so couldn't take much pics inside. Cause it was dark.

Still I managed to take some interesting pics, see for yourself.
The Lagaan crew with King of Mandvi, [see Aamir wearing cap]. Very fuzzy pics are here, due to low lighting conditions. Person wearing cap is King, and lady next to him is Queen. While I can't recognize any other of them. Help me out if you know. [click on image to enlarge]

Now going on other movie. Yes, another movie shot here was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Only some portion of the song 'Chand Chhupa' was shot on the terrace of this palace. See for yourself.

While, watching the movie again, I found one interesting trivia. See these two pictures I found in museum of the palace. These pictures shows different shots of the song 'Chand chhupa'. Which are different than what is shown in the movie. [pic quality is poor due to low light].

See in the museum picture,

While in the movie, we saw this

Another one……in the museum was………….
And in the movie,,,,it was…….

Maybe, the song itself in the soundtrack, was long. And in the movie, one antara was cut. So must be re-shoot.
Now coming back to Lagaan. [is this post getting Long??!!!]

I left after some good hours at the Palace. Humming and listening 'Chale Chalo' [as I was returning from British Chhavni]. I met someone. In the jungle outside. A girl. Look who's that?

Though, she was very shy, and quickly ran away. Giving me hint about this….from the movie again.

While leaving the palace, at the main gate, something still striked in my mind about Lagaan…..see the boys playing the most favorite sport of India.

Near to the palace, there is a beautiful beach. And a more beautiful beach resort, where Lagaan crew came every other weekend to get tanned. The Beach Palace Resort. See for yourself.

Why I have put that pic? Again, Lagaan is the reason. See Bhuvan, Gauri and Elizabeth dancing on its sand…

Another movie strikes in my mind, when I saw this Restaurant cum Beach Hut of the resort……which movie???? Here is a hint,, its another Aamir's movie…
Now….come on ,,,,give answer in comment…here is the photo of the beach hut.

Phewww…….

There my journey to the History. Once upon a time, in Mandvi. Was over. So tired I was. And so much content too, because of being part of the History. I lied down at beach. Got wet in waters. Chased Crabs…….. Wrote my name on Virgin Beach.

Had fun……

My next target is……nothing else but the Village Kuneria….Where the set was constructed for Champaner. I know that there is nothing left overthere. The set and even the temple is removed after the movie shoot was over. Still….i want to touch that land….where the greatest match was played.