More than two decades after its release, ‘Lagaan’ continues to be regarded as one of the: Indian cinema:the most influential films. The period drama not only captivated audiences worldwide but also changed the filmmaking practices of the industry. Among those deeply affected by the film is a filmmaker Anurag Kashyapwho recently reflected on its importance during a conversation with: Aamir Khan Instagram productions.Remembering the buzz around the film even before its release, Kashyap began on a humorous note. “What made me before watching the film, Ashu (Ashutosh Gowariker) went to Kutch to shoot with a head full of hair, returned bald.”He then spoke about how ‘Lagaan’ introduced filmmaking techniques that were not common at the time. “The first was the way they were shooting the film. We heard they were doing sync sound, and sync sound was something that didn’t exist at the time. I think it started again with Lagaan, and Dil Chahta Hai. The disciplined model of film production left a lasting impression on him. “And I was very determined when I made Paanch, I said I want to make sync sound too. The way they went about the film changed a lot of things in this industry. A very organized way of shooting, controlling your budgets, the process of making that film taught the whole industry.”Kashyap revealed that the anticipation of ‘Lagaan’ was incredibly high within the film circles while it was being shot. “I think six to eight months of shooting, and we’ve been waiting for Lagaan to finish and come out in my mind for more than a year. Makarand Deshpande and the whole team that went to ‘Lagaan’.”Sharing memories of his first viewing of the film, Kashyap admitted that many were initially apprehensive about its long running time. “When the film came out, I went to the Gaiety Galaxy on the first day to see it and we were really scared. It’s like a three hour and forty minute long movie, how is it going to happen, what’s going to happen? We’ve heard so many stories.“The filmmaker said that he is convinced that the film is destined for international recognition. “And when Kachra came to the bowl and all that, we were like literally out of our seats. And I was literally excited and I said this film is going to the Oscars.”Kashyap also reflected on the challenge ‘Lagaan’ faced at the box office, as it was released alongside the blockbuster ‘Gadar’. Despite the competition, he and many others in the industry enthusiastically supported Ashutosh Gowariker’s film. “And that was like a joke. And then we heard that it was screening in Locarno in Piazza Grande, and from the screening the noise it made was something. And we are very happy because you know the film is releasing with Gadar. And most of the popular audience is for Gadar. And for us, we are rooted in Lagaan. We’re glad Gadar is doing so well, but we’re rooting hard for Lagaan. And we wanted to expand it, but because of the duration of the film, it was not more than three movies.Recalling the film’s lasting impact, Kashyap credits ‘Lagaan’ with changing perceptions about long-form storytelling in mainstream cinema. “But it’s like you’re in the stadium watching, you’re in the film. And this is the first film to have that kind of impact in a very long time. If Lagaan hadn’t worked, then we filmmakers wouldn’t have made films like Wasseypur and all. That kind of duration, length, like when you’re holding onto the story of the film and you don’t feel like it’s three hours and forty minutes. Now the industry we work in is like the children of Lagaan in a way.”For Kashyap, ‘Lagaan’ was more than just a successful film—it was a turning point that expanded the possibilities of storytelling and influenced an entire generation of filmmakers.