AGNI VARSHA

17 APRIL O1 (Times Of India)
MUMBAI: It's the most talked about cast of the year. Amitabh Bachchan as Hindu god Indra. Jackie Shroff as a head priest, Raveena Tandon as his wife, Nagarjuna as the head priest's jealous rival and Prabhu Deva as a demon in a film based on an episode from the Indian epic Mahabharata. Well-known Bangalore-based stage director Arjun Sajnani has pulled off a casting and thematic coup in his directorial debut. Sajnani's feature film entitled Agni-Varsha is currently being shot in Hampi in Karnataka with the fascinating cast. Why a film set in an unverifiable past and that too based on a mythological subject? "I was passionately moved by the story," said Sajnani who directed the stage version of the play written by actor-writer Girish Karnad. What fascinated Sajnani about Agni-Varsha was the contemporary mood of the ancient drama. Since the mixture of periodicity and modernity worked wonderfully on stage, Sajnani decided to take the English language play to a wider audience by converting it into a Hindi film. The Delhi-bred stage director who has now moved to Bangalore permanently says he is surprised by and grateful to his producers, the television software maker 9-Gold, which is stepping into feature film production with Agni-Varsha. 9-Gold head Raveena Kohli had heard glowing reports of Sajnani's stage play. Since Kohli's company wanted to produce a film that was commercially classy, 9- Gold went ahead and commissioned Sajnani's lavish period drama with cinematographer Anil Mehta, who shot Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Lagaan, capturing the awesome rocky terrain of Hampi in splendid glory. Though Sajnani hopes to take Agni-Varsha to international film festivals, he doesn't hesitate in looking at the story as "a great big melodramatic potboiler" with all the necessary ingredients to make the audience savour the flavours of a modern day classic. When the director offered the role of a "rakshasa" or a demon to south Indian dancing star Prabhu Deva the latter wanted to know if there was any dancing for him to do in Agni-Varsha. Sajnani immediately incorporated a dance number. Sajnani, who has directed 20 plays in the US and India, is all praise for mainstream Hindi actors. He sees their vast untapped potential as an ideal opening for directors like him to take their artistic vision to the masses. About Raveena's role as the head priest's wife, the director said he required an actress who was tough and intelligent. "Her looks, her approach and attitude to her profession and her willingness to take on new challenges are all very encouraging for a first-time director," says Sajnani. As for Amitabh Bachchan, Sajnani has known him from the time, when as students, they acted in a play together in Delhi. The megastar readily agreed to play the part of Lord Indra. Every actor and technician in the film is making an extra effort to ensure that Agni-Varsha is a very special film. Jackie Shroff who must don a "dhoti," an unstitched cloth tied around the waist, for the role, is busy getting into shape to carry off the role. He will also be shaving off his trademark moustache to play the role of the ancient priest. Says Sajnani, "A lot of mainstream Hindi actors have tremendous untapped talent. I intend to use it to my own advantage."

B4U 12 APRIL 2001
Channel Nine, after a noteworthy launch on national television is now breaking into movies big time! A major portion of their film Agni Varsha is currently being shot in Hampi and the jewel of the star-studded cast is none other than Amitabh Bachchan. Keeping apna Shahenshah company is the talented Prabhu Deva, Jaggu dada, model Milind Soman, mast mast Raveena and Pyar Tune Kya Kiya fame Sonali Kulkarni. So here's hoping the film scores a perfect nine oops ten at the box-office!

Times of India (4 APRIL 01)
In debutante director Arjun Sejnani's period drama Agni Varsha, which is set during the time of the Hindu epic Mahabharat, Raveena plays a very powerful central characteralongside Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarajuna and Jackie Shroff. "This is my first costume drama and it's being shot in the supposedly sacred site in Hampi near Bangalore. The film is bound to be special in many ways," Raveena said.

April 01 Indiafm
Channel Nine, who made news when they entered the television industry with a bang, has now taken another giant step. The software company has started a multi-star cast film, the shooting of which has already commenced in Humpy. A period film, it stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Nagarjuna, Prabhu Devaa, Milind Soman, Raveena Tandon and Sonali Kulkarni in principal roles. Titled AGNI VARSHA, the film is being directed by Arjun Sajnani, a playwright from Bangalore. An impressive start by all standards, here's wishing Channel Nine all the best in their new endeavour!