(aka "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India" or "Land Tax")

 

directed by Ashutosh Gowariker
India 2001

The storyline, the well-timed and moving songs and dances, the vibrant colours of the scenery and photography and the clear sub-titles make this movie a feast for the eyes, mind and heart.  Although the film states that Lagaan is fictional, it has piqued my interest to find out if the story was even broadly based on a similar event.   The final comment in the movie: “... the name of Bhuvan has been lost in the pages of history ...” seems to imply some historical basis for the movie which, for the truth-seekers, would certainly make an interesting pursuit. 

Excerpt from Albert Michael's review on DVDBeaver found HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 15th, 2001

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed for the Columbia TriStar (UK) Screen Caps!

(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

          

Distribution

Columbia TriStar

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia TriStar (UK)
Region 2,4 - PAL
Runtime 3:44:14 3:35:56 (4% PAL speedup)
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.27 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.30 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Columbia TriStar

 

Bitrate:

 

Columbia TriStar (UK)

 

Audio English / Hindi Dolby Digital 5.1

English / Hindi Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Thai or none. English, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch or none.
Features Release Information:
Studio: Columbia TriStar

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Deleted scenes.
• Filmographies.

DVD Release Date: January 22, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 52
 

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia TriStar (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Deleted scenes (17:45) (Only subtitled in Dutch!).
• Filmographies.
• Trailers of Ghandi and Lawrence of Arabia.
• 2-DVD set.

 

DVD Release Date: May 27th, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 52

 

Comments NOTE: Purely on the basis of your comparison a note can be added that R2 appears to be cropped on the Right Hand Side (a little on the Left Hand Side as well). (Thanks Deepinder!)

*****

Well I'll be darned if I can find too much difference between these two editions. If anything the Region 2/4 is slightly hazier and slightly saturated.  It is however a two DVD set and both editions are anamorphic. Both DVDs occasionally show slight damage in the upper left corner.  Although this DVD is far from perfect I wish they had done as much with Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy. Regardless, I won't moan about this much. There are speckles, scratches and damage marks seen in both prints - far too much for a release this new. For shame again Columbia. The colors are identical in both versions and both have a kind of lackluster  5.1 audio. Unless you are quite picky about single discs or PAL speedup  (if so buy the Region 1)  - then pick up whatever is least expensive. Maybe one day someone will do this better.

Gary W. Tooze

 





DVD Menus

(
Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - RIGHT)


 

 


 

Screen Captures

(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)


 

 

 


(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 


 

(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 


 

(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 


 

(Columbia TriStar - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Columbia TriStar (UK) - Region 2,4 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


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Report Card:

Image:

Region 1

Sound:

-

Extras: -
Menu: -
DVD Box Covers

    

   

   

Distribution

Columbia TriStar

Region 1 - NTSC

Columbia TriStar (UK)
Region 2,4 - PAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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