:04:21
The year is 1893.
:04:25
Champaner.
:04:27
A small village inthe heart of India.
:04:34
The people of Champanerdepended on agriculture...
:04:38
... like those inthousands of villages.
:04:42
A British cantonmentbordered the village.
:04:50
Two miles south, beyondthe cantonment, was the fort...
:04:54
... of the Rajahof this province.
:04:57
The British protected the Rajah'sdomain from neighbouring attacks.
:05:01
They also promised the other Rajahsprotection from this Rajah.
:05:06
Thanks to this double-dealing,the British...
:05:09
... collected a tax from the Rajahs...
:05:13
...paid by every farmerin the country.
:05:17
Lagaan:
:05:20
The submission of a portionof the farmer's harvest...
:05:25
... to the Rajah as tax.
:05:29
Every Rajah collected lagaan fromvillages under his rule.
:05:36
The Rajah would keep one share...
:05:38
...and give the rest to the British.
:05:42
In this way, the British fistgrew iron strong.
:05:47
Like thousands of villagesacross the country...
:05:50
... the farmers of Champanertoiled on empty bellies...
:05:54
...and paid taxes to the Rajahevery year.
prev.