Twenty-five years after Lagaan first bowled over audiences, one question continues to echo through Bollywood: Why hasn't there been another Lagaan?
Every few months, someone in the industry laments the lack of original films. Audiences too often reminisce about the era when Hindi cinema dared to dream differently. Yet, despite all the nostalgia and admiration, Bollywood hasn't truly attempted to recreate what made Lagaan so extraordinary. And perhaps that's because everyone wants another Lagaan but very few are willing to take Lagaan-sized risks.
When Lagaan released in 2001, it wasn't the obvious blockbuster it appears to be in hindsight. On paper, it sounded like an impossible sell. A nearly four hour long period drama. Cricket. Colonial India. Unknown international actors. A village ensemble instead of glamorous stars. Songs woven into a sports narrative. It was a film that defied every conventional box office formula of its time.
Today, many filmmakers would probably struggle to get such a project greenlit.
Ironically, Bollywood has never had more resources than it does today. Budgets have grown. Technology has improved dramatically. VFX standards have risen. Marketing campaigns are bigger than ever. Yet, truly original mainstream ideas remain surprisingly rare. Instead, studios understandably gravitate towards established franchises, remakes, cinematic universes and concepts that already come with built-in audience familiarity.
From a business standpoint, that strategy makes complete sense. Films are becoming increasingly expensive, theatrical recovery is tougher and every decision is scrutinized. Risk management has become just as important as storytelling.
But cinema has always rewarded those willing to bet on conviction.
Lagaan wasn't remembered because it was a period film or because it revolved around cricket. It became immortal because it made audiences emotionally invest in every character, every over and every victory. Even viewers who didn't understand cricket found themselves cheering by the climax because the emotional stakes were universal.
That's perhaps the biggest lesson Bollywood sometimes overlooks. Originality alone isn't enough. Audiences embrace stories that make them care.
Interestingly, some of the industry's biggest successes over the years have come from films that initially appeared unconventional. Many defining hits began as calculated risks that eventually rewrote industry assumptions.
Risk doesn't always mean spending Rs. 300 crores. Sometimes it simply means backing an idea that hasn't already been validated by someone else's success.
There is also a tendency to believe that audiences only want spectacle today. But history suggests otherwise. Viewers continue to reward films that offer emotional honesty, compelling storytelling and memorable characters. Scale certainly helps, but it cannot replace soul. Veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh said that one must keep aspiring to make films that are desi at heart. “Of course, every film cannot be Lagaan, which can reach the finals of the Oscars,” he said. “That’s something which is very rare. To find that acceptance is also very rare. Having said that, I feel one must keep trying. The key to success and breaking out in the international market is to make those breakout films that depict our culture; not copy one of those foreign films. Lagaan was very desi at heart. It was a desi film in all respects. It wasn’t trying to ape any international or American film.”
He also added that box office pressure often restricts makers to try innovative subjects. “The box office is playing such a crucial role these days that we have forgotten to make these kind of films. Box office was always huge but today it is multiplied into 10 or even 100. So, that becomes quite a challenge with the filmmaker. Somewhere down the line, everything is looking at the economics and the monies that would be coming from various avenues. It is very important to strike a balance between art and commerce. Make the kind of films you wish to make but at the same time, think of the box office as well as art. By art, I don’t make arthouse cinema. I mean, films that depict a new or different story within commercial parameters,” he concluded.
Perhaps that's why Lagaan continues to be celebrated even after a quarter of a century. It wasn't chasing trends. It became one.
Bollywood often wonders where its next all-time classic will come from. The answer may not lie in recreating Lagaan itself, but in rediscovering the courage that made Lagaan possible in the first place.
Because great films rarely emerge from playing it safe.
More Pages: Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Box Office Collection , Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India Movie Review
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