In Autumn 2002 while some Nomads were in Spain a substantial body of Nomads and friends attended the showing at the NFT of the  film Lagaan.  As a result Steve Marions, Nomad Documentary film maker, was much inspired  to propose a project involving a film of the tour and more.  However it was agreed at a pretour meeting that  while Steve should pursue his project  and Nomads would support it, the centenary tour would proceed independently and if both were successful there would be useful synergy  and both parties would benefit.

Independently our good friend Vikram Kaul had attended a meeting with Doordashan's sports program planners who were keen to fill slots on December 30 and 31st as there was no international cricket those days anywhere. Vikram suggested that maybe they fill the slot with a match involving London based wandering club Nomads who had one or more members of the Lagaan cast in the party. Properly marketed  this could be a celebrity event with a lot of public interest as long  as a good number of both the English and Indian actors played and or attended. Doordashan jumped at the idea and confirmed the match with Nomads.

For several weeks thereafter Michael Blumberg in London and Sandeep Singh Nakai in Delhi bombarded Doordashan with emails and telephone calls as it was necessary for Doordashan to fly over Chris England and others for the match from UK and Shelly from Holiday in Goa. 

Despite the barrage of one way communication no reply was ever received. As a result Nomads set off on tour as originally planned with five matches arranged over three days in Delhi. During tea on our first match with Delhi Blues Veterans Vikram Kaul introduced the Doordashan executive who was responsible for the Lagaan Match.

He said how disappointed he was that we had only one member of the Lagaan cast with us. MB replied 'So are we'! Where have you been the last few weeks as we have tried endlessly to contact you about bringing 4/5 actors to Delhi? He replied  that he had been on annual leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That evening at the magnificent party put on by our hotel the same executive introduced his boss to Michael Blumberg and emphasised how disappointed he was that we had not brought Chris England and co with us. Once again it was explained that we had spent several weeks emailing, writing and calling to discuss just this matter. 

Of course Doordashan could have  prevailed upon Air India to fly them over for nothing such was the cache of the Lagaan brand. MB replied that he always thought they wanted Chris England & co  but without any contact from Doordashan with  our man in Delhi, Sandeep Singh Nakai or even Vikram Kaul how could we proceed. We had no authority so to do.

Distraught with Michael Blumberg's reply the same two executives then found Steve Marions and Charlton Lamb and rent their frustration on them for a long time so much so that SM was convinced that a huge diplomatic 'faux pas' had been made.

A brief chat with Vikram Kaul would have put everything in perpsective but instead SM & CL burnt the midnight oil worrying about this problem and next day at breakfast confronted MB to emphasise the enormity of this blunder. The result was that Charlton and Steve spent most of the tour tirelessly trying to arrange aone or more Charity Lagaan match.

Nomads in the meantime just got on with the centenary tour as arranged even though the presence of Ben Nealon attracted press interest wherevr we played.

Despite a letter of endorsement from Aaamir Khan we failed to secure substantial support for the tour to bring over  Chris England and four other actors from the English team in the Lagaan film. Had Doordashan communicated with Nomads CC and or their representatives in the month prior to the tour this would have happened from their end.

In the event a magnificent match day was arranged by Doordashan much enjoyed by players, supporters and spectators.  

In the end Charlton & Steve did manage to secure the backing of the CCI and some sponsors to play a Lagaan match with most of the English and Indian caste from the film but it was all too late. Steve departed to meet his Guru and Charlton disappeared to Delhi on an unsuccessful business mission.

Somewhat ironically as Steve Marions and Charlton Lamb were elsewhere when Michael Blumberg, Annette Tibergien, Keith Alexander, Paul Wakefied, Charles Fellows-Smith and Ben Nealon were invited to a drinks reception at the Cricket  Club of India by CCI President Raj Singh Dungapur ostensibly in recognition of the World Spin Academy taking place at the CCI. Polly Umrigar, Bishan Bedi, Erapali Prassana and several young county cricketers plus UK coaches made up the party. However Ben Nealon was due to go out that evening with Aamir Khan who was coming to the CCI to pick him up. So Aamir plus another Lagaan actor joined the party and  both of them were thrilled to meet the former Test cricketers. Despite the presence of a professional photographer who took many pictures including a informal group one containing Nomads, Aamir Khan,Umrigar et al we have never managed to get some copies.  

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