Lagaan at 25: Sachin Tendulkar reveals how Wankhede gave the film its crowd roar
Synopsis
Sachin Tendulkar didn't just watch Lagaan — he helped make it sound real. The cricket legend has revealed that he pointed director Ashutosh Gowariker to a live India-Australia match at Wankhede to capture an authentic crowd roar, two years before the film's release. Twenty-five years on, the Tendulkar-Lagaan connection runs deeper than fans knew.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Tendulkar suggested director Ashutosh Gowariker record crowd sound at a live India vs Australia match at Wankhede Stadium , Mumbai , for use in Lagaan .
The recording was done approximately two years before the film's release in 2001 .
Tendulkar revealed his son Arjun Tendulkar watched Lagaan on TV every single evening while having dinner.
Tendulkar praised A R Rahman's soundtrack, specifically citing 'O Paalanhaare' for its lasting calm and positivity.
Lagaan earned a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards , only the third Indian film to do so.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has revealed that an India vs Australia match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai provided the authentic crowd sound used in the 2001 Oscar-nominated film Lagaan, as the iconic movie marks its 25th anniversary. Tendulkar shared the anecdote while reflecting on his personal connection with the film and his behind-the-scenes contribution to its making.
How Wankhede Became Lagaan's Sound Studio
Tendulkar recalled that director Ashutosh Gowariker had approached him roughly two years before the film's release with a specific question — where could one find the authentic sound of a cricket crowd? Tendulkar's answer was characteristically practical.
'Movie launch hone ke 2 saal pehle, I think you had asked me ‘Jo ek crowd ka authentic aawaz hota hai woh Kahan milega?’ and I had said we are playing Australia in Mumbai. Wankhede stadium aake record karle, kyu nahi?' Tendulkar recalled in his own words.
The suggestion gave Gowariker access to one of cricket's most electric atmospheres — a live international match crowd at Wankhede Stadium — lending the film a sonic authenticity that a studio recording could never have replicated.
A Family Film That Played on Loop
Beyond his production contribution, Tendulkar spoke warmly about how Lagaan became a fixture in the Tendulkar household. He revealed that his son Arjun Tendulkar would return home every evening after playing cricket with neighbourhood children and, without fail, put the film on television while having dinner.
'Arjun would come home every evening after playing cricket with the building kids and would play Lagaan on TV while having dinner without fail every single day,' Tendulkar said. The family, he added, would watch the film together repeatedly — and it remained just as engaging with each viewing.
Tendulkar Praises Rahman's Soundtrack
Tendulkar also singled out composer A R Rahman's soundtrack for special mention, noting that songs like 'O Paalanhaare' continue to evoke calm and positivity even decades after their release. The film's music, widely regarded as among Rahman's finest work, has endured as a cultural touchstone alongside the film itself.
About Lagaan: The Film That Reached the Oscars
Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and led by Aamir Khan, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was released in 2001. Set in 1893, the film follows Bhuvan, a village farmer who accepts a high-stakes cricket challenge against British colonial officers to free his village from crushing taxation.
The film earned a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards, becoming only the third Indian film to receive the honour. Its ensemble cast included Aamir Khan, Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Raghubir Yadav, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, among others.
Tendulkar concluded by congratulating Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker, and the entire team, expressing wonder at how swiftly 25 years have passed since the film's release. For a film that wove cricket and cinema into a single unforgettable narrative, the connection to India's greatest cricketer was, it turns out, deeper than most fans ever knew.
Point of View
But Tendulkar's Wankhede anecdote is the most substantive yet — it reframes the film's celebrated authenticity as partly a product of India's cricket infrastructure. What's notable is how organically cricket and cinema intersected here: no formal arrangement, just a cricketer's common-sense suggestion. It also underscores how Lagaan's production team went to unusual lengths for verisimilitude at a time when Indian blockbusters rarely did. Twenty-five years on, the film's Oscar nomination and its hold on audiences like young Arjun Tendulkar suggest that investment paid off in ways no studio sound effect could have matched.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Sachin Tendulkar help with the making of Lagaan?
Sachin Tendulkar suggested to director Ashutosh Gowariker that he record the authentic sound of a cricket crowd at a live India vs Australia match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, approximately two years before the film's 2001 release. This recording gave Lagaan its real crowd atmosphere.
Why is Lagaan celebrating 25 years?
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India was released in 2001, making 2026 its 25th anniversary. The film is widely regarded as one of Indian cinema's greatest achievements and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards.
What did Sachin Tendulkar say about Arjun Tendulkar and Lagaan?
Tendulkar revealed that his son Arjun Tendulkar would watch Lagaan on television every single evening while having dinner, after returning home from playing cricket with neighbourhood children. The family would watch it together repeatedly.
Which Oscar category was Lagaan nominated in?
Lagaan was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards, making it only the third Indian film to receive that honour.
Who directed and starred in Lagaan?
Lagaan was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and starred Aamir Khan in the lead role of Bhuvan. The cast also included Gracy Singh, Rachel Shelley, Paul Blackthorne, Raghubir Yadav, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, among others.
