“Every Indian should have Lagaan DVD,” said , Aamir Khan at the launch of DVD/ VCD of Oscar nominated film Lagaan and the making of the movie titled Chale Chalo (directed by Satyajit Bhatkal) at an event in Mumbai yesterday. Aamir, along with director Ashutosh Gowarikar, Gracy Singh, Javed Akhtar, Satyajit Bhatkal and other members of the Lagaan team watched a special screening of Chale Chalo. “It brought tears to my eyes while watching Chale Chalo at several occasions,” he said.
Noted scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar summed up the Lagaan experience succinctly. “How time passes. Seven years have passed. In retrospect I have learnt how to write a script. For, here is a film that breaks all norms. When Ashutosh Gowarikar came to me first and narrated the script, I had tremendous sympathy and compassion for him. Here was a man planning to commit suicide. I sent an SOS to Aamir sahib stating the same. A film with a rural background, hero wearing a dhoti, rural folk music, heroine wrapped in a sari, cricket was a poison for box office….this film was exactly the opposite. But after Lagaan I have realized that there’s no formula, no law. Only law is instinct, passion and love for cinema. What is admirable is the passion, the junoon that went in making this film. Hats off to Aamir and his team for the junoon that is a rarity these days,” Akhtar said.
Aamir on his part as a producer clarified that he couldn’t release the DVD for six years after the release of the film as he was under a contract which stated that he can’t bring out the DVD of the film in the market for five years after the release of the film. “People say that I take a lot of time in taking decisions….Log kahte hain ki abhi tak soch raha hoga….but it was nothing of that sort,” Aamir said. And why did he choose Excel Home Videos? “I chose Excel because I wanted high quality. I also realized Excel can give me commitment, care and passion.”
Watch scenes from the Lagaaan DVD. Uncut scenes that you missed on the big screen.
