Journal of Postcolonial Writing· 2026Q1
Dissecting nationalist narratives: Lagaan – a critique of colonialism or a eulogy of colonial governance?
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- 2026year
Short summary
The film Lagaan, often seen as anti-colonial resistance, paradoxically upholds imperial governance by portraying it as just and self-correcting, and by showing villagers loyal to the monarch rather than demanding popular sovereignty.
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Key points
- Lagaan is often read as nationalist cinema, depicting anti-colonial resistance against exploitative taxation.
- The article argues the film paradoxically upholds imperial governance despite initial critiques.
- The film portrays the colonial system as just and self-correcting, foreclosing the need for national sovereignty.
- Villagers' loyalty to the monarch prevents them from demanding popular sovereignty, reaffirming existing political structures.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan is widely considered one of Bollywood’s most compelling portrayals of anti-colonial resistance in India. The film’s depiction of a small village, resisting exploitative colonial taxation, is often read as a powerful cinematic expression of nationalist aspiration. In contrast, this article argues that Lagaan occupies a paradoxical position within the corpus of nationalist cinema: the film produces the affect of nationalist triumph while also ideologically subverting the very nationalist vision it appears to affirm. Firstly, despite its initial critique of corrupt colonial officials for their abuse of power, the film portrays imperial governance as a just and self-correcting system, thereby upholding its claimed moral legitimacy and foreclosing the necessity of imagining national sovereignty. Secondly, the villagers’ loyalty to the monarch and their desire to live under his authority prevent them from demanding popular sovereignty. These features show that the film’s apparent resistance ultimately reaffirms existing political structures.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Postcolonial Writing, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Visual Arts and Performing ArtsArts and Humanities