Set in colonial India in 1893, Lagaan is based on the story of village which united in resistance against unjust taxation. One of the movies that re-introduced Indian cinema to the West, it narrowly missed out on Oscar nomination contender due to its four-hour run. The tyrannical commander of the British regiment makes a bet with a handsome and proud farmer (Aamir Khan): if the villagers can beat the British regiment in a cricket match, he'll waive the land tax for two years. With a musical score by no less than legendary A. R. Rahman, Lagaan saw Bollywood trying a blend of Western and contemporary Indian film style.