15 Truly Wonderful Facts About Lagaan That You Didn't Know About!

In the year of sports films, it is hard to forget the one that started it all. Combining the biggest passions of the country – cricket and films – nobody expected the movie to become the classic it has. Defying every odd and breaking every expectation wasn't just a theme in the movie but has also become its reality.

The movie is so deeply etched in our memories that it is hard to forget how every scene plays out. We know teen-gunna-lagaan, radha-kaise-na-jale, hum-jeet-gaye. We know the zany language, the elaborate sets, the rousing songs. We know how Bhuvan's romance story Gauri and Elizabeth was similar to Lord Krishna. We know the brutality of the officers of British Raj and how every villager in Champaner only wanted one thing: Rain.

So in the light of all the things that we know, here's a list of things that we probably don't:

Aamir Khan wasn't Ashutosh Gowariker's first choice to play Bhuvan, it was Shah Rukh Khan. When SRK couldn't commit, the director approached Aamir, who was apprehensive to take up such a huge risk. 

The movie was shot in an ancient village near Bhuj (Gujarat). In addition to the water and electricity shortage, there were no hotels for the team Lagaan. Under Aamir Khan's supervision, the crew transformed a newly built building into a hotel. 

It took nearly five years for Lagaan to hit the theatres. Though 15 years ago it wasn't common for films to be over three hours long, film's unedited first cut was seven and a half hours long!

In the movie, Bhuvan helped farmers of his village to beat the British Raj. But in reality, he was not unbeaten. Aamir Khan confessed in an interview that he did get bowled out once during the shooting.

Lagaan wouldn't be the same without Gauri. Although Namrata Shirodkar, Ameesha Patel, Nandita Das were all in the race for the lead role in the film, but it everntually went to Gracie Singh. 

One of things Aamir Khan wanted for the film was a first assistant director. But since this concept was new to India, Hollywood's help was taken. It was Farhan Akhtar who suggested the name of Apoorva Lakhia, who had a lot of Hollywood experience.

According to Aamir, Sachin Tendulkar had the best reaction upon watching the film, who was visibly nervous during the scenes of final match of the movie. 

It actually rained when the song Ghanan Ghanan played during the first public screening of the movie at a theatre in Bhuj. Even though there was a power cut, the screening didn't stop and continued with the assitance of generators. The entire cast and crew along with the villagers who acted in the movie were present in the jam-packed theatre.

Even though they began dating after the movie, it was while the film was shooting when Aamir first met Kiran Rao.

A.R. Rahman who provided the epic movie a suitable soundtrack was rejected by Aamir Khan. According to the actor, the musical maestro had a reputation of not meeting the deadlines.

Aamir Khan wasn't versed with the language used in the film. So every so often he would slip into Hindi without realising his mistake.

Paul Blackthorne and Rachel Shelley were given the main roles in the film. Rachel, who played the role of Elizabeth, spoke Hindi in the film without knowing any of it before. Paul Blackthorne, who was the despicable Captain Russell, expressed his disgust and guilt over the attrocities commited during the period of British Raj in India.

Lagaan was the first Indian film to get premiered in China. 

The crowd in the cricket scenes was required to cheer at specific moments, which was not always possible. So, cheering during the cricket match scenes was recorded during a test match between India and Australia at Wankhade stadium. Though only recorded a small part and was looped as people kept chanting Sachin Sachin.

Lagaan was only the third Indian movie to be nominated at the Oscars. Though it didn't win, the movie has gone on to become a classic world wide over. Time magazine has listed the film in "The All-TIME 25 Best Sports Movies"; Channel 4 has placed it at number 14 in "50 Films to See Before you Die"– the only Indian film to be listed.

True epic!