Lagaan, Bollywood's cricket extravaganza, has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category at next month's Academy Awards. Written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, and starring superstar Aamir Khan, Lagaan is only the third Indian film - after Mother India and Salaam Bombay - to be nominated for the Oscars.

Set in the late 1800s, Lagaan - meaning tax - describes the triumph of a victimised, uninitiated bunch of Indian villagers over a British team led by a heartless and arrogant captain, in a game of cricket. The farmers of the village are spared a crippling tax as a result of the victory.

Of course, cricket is only a metaphor - cleverly used - to emphasise the age-old good-triumphs-over-evil lesson. But in the process, many of cricket's familiar demons - match-fixing, bodyline, bowlers with physical deformities – are weaved into a narrative that includes a liberal dose of Bollywood song-and-dance and romance.

Despite grossing approximately $2 million in North America and Great Britain, and an enthusiastic response world over, Lagaan had run into rough weather with some critics. Andrew Roberts, a leading British historian condemned the film as inaccurate, accusing the producers of "over-playing" the negative aspects of the British Raj and ignoring its many benefits. "British Empire in India brought peace, progress and stability to the country for 200 years," he said.

But the British actors in the film came out in support of the film. Paul Blackthorne, who played the character of Captain Andrew Russell, said: "The British, at the time, were not far short of Mafiosi and the film depicts them quite accurately. You would be hard-pressed to find a goodie then."

Rachel Shelley, who plays Aamir's love interest in the film, agrees. " I don't think anyone would disagree that we (British) were quite awful.

Lagaan faces stiff competition from Amelie, a French film considered to be the favourite. The other nominees are: Elling from Norway, No Man's Land from Bosnia and Son Of The Bride from Argentina.

Click here to link to the official Lagaan website.

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