LAGAAN by Rajeev Masand

SUMMARY:
    Lagaan which means Tax in Hindi is one of the best gifts to Movie lovers given by Ashutosh. Although the story dates back to the Pre-Independence Era, the lessons derived from it are not less than any modern day Management lesson.

 The story is about the farmers of Champaner who are burdened with heavy taxes and no rains. When they approach the Resident British Officer Captain Russel, to waive off their tax, he challenges one of the young farmers Bhuvan with a game of cricket. The British were already well versed with the game of cricket, but the Indian farmers were not even aware about a bat. The challenge for the Indian farmers was to win the match against the British to find themselves tax free for three years, or they had to pay double the current tax. They got help in the form of Captain Russels’ Sister who taught them the game and the strategies. There are many lessons of leadership one can derive from the movie.Think of Problems as Opportunities.

When Captain Russel challenges Bhuvan for match, Bhuvan accepts it because he knows that there is really no option. It is a risk, but without taking risks, there are no rewards. Given the state of his brethren (and with no looming rains), Bhuvan viewed the instrumentalism of trying to reduce the double tax as a non-option against the possibility of better quality of life offered by a victory in the cricket match. In our lives too, we face a lot of problems. We need to think of these as opportunities for innovation.

Dream Big and Define the Goals.

Once Bhuvan accepted the challenge, his dream was three years of no tax. It may have seemed unrealistic or even improbable, but then that's what dreams are. Dreaming is about imagining a different future. In the case of Bhuvan, he not only dreamt big but also put in place a strategy to make that a reality. To make things happen the way we want, we have to envision the future, and paint a picture in front of the others of what we want to achieve.Make a Beginning.

Bhuvan did not wait to start. He did not see around. He made a bat and a ball, got a kid interested and started. Many times, we brood and end up thinking too much. The only way one can test out new ideas is by jumping in, by getting started. Only when we close the door behind us will we see the doors in front start opening.

Small Victories are Important at the Start.

The first time Bhuvan hits the ball, he does so in full view of the entire village. He makes it seem easy; he makes them want to participate. In the film, watch the faces of the villagers after Bhuvan's first strike. When starting any project, it is important to have small wins at the start to motivate the team. 

>>>I know nothing about the Indian culture or music, and I was a bit skeptical that a 4-hour subtitled movie filmed in India about CRICKET would be of interest to me. I loved every minute. Not only was this movie visually beautiful and well paced, it also has a "good heart." Although a classic tale of courageous common folk rising up against oppressors, the story is told with humor and affection and with an infectious joy and innocence that is very appealing. One example of the director's skill is that even though most of the film is concerned with cricket, a sport about which I know absolutely nothing, the movie never lags or slows down, but keeps an active pace.

#MARXISM THEORY