Producer: I-Dreams
Director: Arjun Sajnani
Cast: Jackie Shroff, Nagarjuna, Prabhu Deva, Milind Soman, Raveena Tandon, Sonali Kulkarni, Mohan Agashe, Amitabh Bachchan
Music: Sandesh Sandilya

‘Agni Varsha’ is daringly different. After encountering the substandard films of the present times and the commercial potboilers that are far from satisfying, this is a film, which appears strikingly fresh. To make an historic film as such is not easy and to paint period drama in celluloid takes pain. Also such genre of films demands lots of detailing and research and the plot, the setting, the costumes and ambience of ‘Agni Varsha’ hints at that. The story is derived from the myth of Yavakri a part of the great epic the Mahabharata. But the main question is, will such film cater to the taste of the audience of today?
 
The film is directed by Arjun Sajnani and is set against the backdrop of a dry ravaged land. Amitabh Bachchan makes the special appearance as god Indra. Jackie dons the role of chief priest Paravasu who is conducting a grand fire to please Indra. He is the guardian of a holy fire since seven years abandoning his family and other earthly pleasures. His wife Vishakha (Raveena Tandon) is forlorn and this is when his cousin and archrival Yavakri (Nagarjuna) seduces her to seek revenge. Paravasu’s brother Arvasu (Milind Soman) falls in love with a tribal girl Nittile (Sonali Kulkarni). Against all odds and oppositions he wants to marry her. Raibhya (Mohan Agashe), Paravasu's father revenges Yavakri by calling the demon (Prabhu Deva). One situation leads to another.

The film begins on an interesting note. The first part is the best part of the premise and Arjun Sajnani in a simple manner portrays the story on the screen. The plot is fascinating and the twists and turns in this portions with engaging events following one after another raises expectations for the second half. Drama continues in the second part of the film as well but the slow pace glaringly looks at your face and thus the drama loses its fizz. The songs act as breaker in the second portions.

Director Arjun Sajnani execution is applaudable. He uses special effects with deftness. Also he extracts some of high voltage performance from the cast. But he falters as a storyteller and this hampers the process of the film. Also a film of such genre will have to ropewalk to garner the attention of the modern audience. Anil Mehta cinematography is apt and captures the ambience of the film perfectly. 

Milind Soman is a revelation in the film and his performance if outstanding. Raveena Tandon is extraordinary and emotes fluidly with Nagarjuna and Jackie. Jackie Shroff plays a calm self. Nagarjuna exuberates his villain side with conviction. Sonali Kulkarni and Prabhu Deva are all right. Mohan Agashe and Raghuvir Yadav are sincere. Amitabh Bachchan is hardly there.

The film will surely find a place in the international film festivals and will be applauded warmly there. For the masses of India the prospect of the film will be stagnating. However it will be wrapped up by the lovers of serious and meaningful cinema. So the makers can be upbeat about the business in multiplexes and select cinemas of metros.