A man from one of the local villages grew angry at the unfair practice of the raja of taking their crops during a drought and making them starve, but in his rashness, he wagered with the raja — the rash guy's village would play cricket against the British team. If the villagers won, they would not have to pay the lagaan. But if they lost, they had to pay double, which would mean famine. People would die.
The whole village turned against the rash guy. What had he done? He had seriously endangered them all.
And yet, if they had to pay even this year's lagaan, they would suffer and starve anyway. One by one the villagers joined the rash one in his quest to learn to play cricket so they could win their freedom from the lagaan. Eventually a team was formed, and they began physical conditioning to prepare themselves for the game.
The scene below takes place soon after the village has gotten behind Mr. Rash and preparation has begun in earnest. They sing a song in the clip and I think it's inspiring. The movie was inspiring too. It's called Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India. I don't usually like watching movies with subtitles, but I loved this one. "Chale chalo" means "come on, let's go, get a move on."
Lyrics to the song, translated into English:
Say it again and again, speak, friend, yes!
May victory be ours, may defeat be theirs, yes!
Chorus:
May no one triumph over us!
Come, let's go, get a move on!
May those who oppose us be obliterated! Come on, let's go!
No matter whether darkness spreads over us;
let's go, get a move on!
Let no one stop along the road; come on, let's go!
The pointing finger of accusation broke and shattered
when our five fingers came together and made a fist!
May our unity only strengthen!
Come, let's go, get a move on!
No matter how much someone might distract you, come on, let's go!
Chorus:
No one will stop you now, no one will get in your way!
Break all the bonds that hold you back!
What have you gained by being weak? You tell me!
We'll never endure misfortune; we'll play
in such a way that the enemy will be defeated!
Take the road of courage, now!
We'll shake this earth, we'll show everyone
the difference between a king and a slave.
We'll overwhelm the earth; we'll tell you right now
what kind of people we are!
Say it again and again, speak, friend, yes!
May victory be ours, may defeat be theirs, yes!
May no fear enter our hearts now!
Come, let's go, get a move on!
May every fetter snap apart now; come on, let's go!
Just keep marching, no panting, no shuddering;
you're on the path now, voyager!
Don't let the snake of exhaustion sink its fangs into you now!
He who is your ruler is a tyrant!
He has wrought destruction!
His home is in the west; he shall not settle here!
We'll shake this earth; we'll show everyone
the difference between a king and a slave
We'll overcome this earth; we'll tell you right now
what kind of people we are!
What must be, let it be, no matter! Come on, let's go!
May you never bow your head again! Come on, let's go!
Chorus:
Again and again, yes!
Say it, friend, yes!
May victory be ours,
may defeat be theirs, yes!
It broke and shattered,
the pointing finger of accusation!
When our five fingers came together,
they made a fist!
Adam Khan is the author of Principles For Personal Growth, Slotralogy, Antivirus For Your Mind, and co-author with Klassy Evans of How to Change the Way You Look at Things (in Plain English). Follow his podcast, The Adam Bomb.
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