For many movie fans, one of the most memorable moments in “Lagaan” comes when Captain Andrew Russell announces the massive tax increase with the now famous words, “Teen guna lagaan.”
“This scene, full of tension and dread, cemented Russell as one of the most memorable villains in Hindi cinema and became a defining moment in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Oscar-nominated classic.However, 25 years after the film’s release, actor Paul Blackthorne revealed that the intensity the audience experienced on screen was partly the result of a real challenge. The British actor, who plays Captain Russell opposite Aamir Khan, recently shared that he was struggling to keep his eyes open while shooting the popular series under the scorching Gujarat sun.Paul reflected on the scene and credited the film’s editing with heightening its impact. “The editing of this scene is amazing. It’s amazing. Building up the tension is amazing,” Paul said in an interview with NDTV. While the scene looked smooth on screen, the actor noted that weather conditions made filming particularly difficult. Facing the harsh rays of the sun directly was a challenge for him and cinematographer Anil Mehta.
“I couldn’t see anything. The Gujarat sun was so bright. Anil Mehta, the poor operations director, kept saying: ‘Can you open your eyes?’ And I said to myself: ‘I can’t open my eyes, it’s too bright.'” That’s when Aamir Khan offered a practical solution. According to Paul, the actor suggested keeping his eyes closed until the camera rolled.“Look at the sun with your eyes closed and then open them while moving,” Amer said. You’ll have about 10 seconds before your eyes start squinting again.”
That was Amer’s advice. “I would keep my eyes closed, hear the ‘event’, open them and quickly say the line before closing my eyes again,” Paul said.The simple trick worked perfectly, and helped create the terrifying moment that would become one of the film’s most remembered scenes. Russell’s declaration of “Teen guna lagaan” remains etched in popular culture even today. Paul also looked at another challenge he faced while making the film, which was cricket.
Although Captain Russell appeared dominating the field in the film’s climactic match, the actor admitted he had no idea how to play the sport when he got the role.“At auditions, when they ask, ‘Can you do this? Can you do that? “You just say yes. Cricket?” “Oh yes, I can play cricket.” Of course, I couldn’t,” he said.The actor spent months preparing for Lagaan, working on his Hindi lines, understanding the character and learning to ride a Victorian-style horse.
But cricket seemed deceptively simple to him. “I thought it’s just a game of cricket, I’ll be fine,” he recalls.Reality struck during the pre-production stage when Aamir organized a friendly cricket match between the cast members. “Aamer said, ‘Paul, you’re opening the batting.’ I said, ‘Yes, okay.’ First ball, out. I asked if we could go again. Second ball, out. I thought this is not going well,” Paul shared.The experience led to additional cricket training before filming began.
Even then, Paul joked that it was the movie magic that ultimately did most of the heavy lifting. “In the movie, you see this big thundering ball drop and Russell smashes it. In reality, someone stands five feet away and says, ‘Try hitting that ball.’ And I’m going to miss it again,” he said.Considering his experience with humor, the actor concluded that “the strength of the film saved my bacon.”A quarter of a century later, Lagaan is still celebrated for its stories, performances and unforgettable moments. As Paul Blackthorne’s tales reveal, some of the film’s most iconic scenes were created with a little ingenuity, a lot of patience, and a touch of cinematic magic.
