MichalKohn: updated structure based on references and corrected details

2026-03-03T05:24:37Z

updated structure based on references and corrected details

>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Films about the Indian caste system to :Category:Films about the caste system in India per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2021-03-07T08:51:42Z

Moving Category:Films about the Indian caste system to Category:Films about the caste system in India per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{short description|2002 film directed by Arjun Sajnani}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Agnivarsha: The Fire and the Rain
| image = Agni_Varsha.jpg
| caption = Movie Poster
| director = Arjun Sajnani
| producer = Kashish Bhatnagar
| writer = [[Girish Karnad]]
| screenplay = {{Plainlist |
* [[Anil Mehta]]
* Arjun Sajnani
* [[Jayshree T.]]
}}
| story =
| based_on = {{based on|''The Fire and the Rain''|Girish Karnad}}
| narrator =
| starring = {{Plainlist |
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]]
* [[Jackie Shroff]]
* [[Akkineni Nagarjuna|Nagarjuna]]
* [[Raveena Tandon]]
* [[Milind Soman]]
}}
| music = {{Plainlist |
* [[Sandesh Shandilya]]
* [[Taufiq Qureshi]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Anil Mehta]]
| editing = Jabeen Merchant
| studio = I Dream Productions
| distributor = Cinebella
| released = {{filmdate|df=y|2002|8|30}}
| runtime = 130 Minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
| gross = $51,549
}}

'''''Agni Varsha''''' is a 2002 Indian epic [[Hindi film]] produced by Kashish Bhatnagar on I Dream Productions banner, directed by Arjun Sajnani. It stars [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Jackie Shroff]], [[Akkineni Nagarjuna|Nagarjuna]], [[milind soman]] and [[Raveena Tandon]], with music composed by [[Sandesh Shandilya]] and [[Taufiq Qureshi]]. The film is a silver screen adaptation of [[Girish Karnad]]'s ''[[Mahabharat]]'' play ''The Fire and The Rain''. The film's art direction was handled by [[Shashidhar Adapa]] and Choreography was handled by [[Prabhu Deva]].<ref>[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/11553/index.html Review] ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.learnreligions.com/agnivarsha-the-fire-and-the-rain-4015998|title=Agnivarsha: A Tale from the Age of the Mahabharata|first1=Subhamoy Das Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World " He has also written several|last1=children|first2=young adult books about|last2=Hinduism|website=Learn Religions}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thepeninsulaqatar.com/component/content/article/348-indiaarchiverest/64239.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717022335/http://archive.thepeninsulaqatar.com/component/content/article/348-indiaarchiverest/64239.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2011|title=Panned at home~ Agnivarsha gets rave reviews in US – India|date=17 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/movies/Agni-Varsha/summary-9165.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923131812/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/movies/Agni-Varsha/summary-9165.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 September 2010|title=Agni Varsha – Movie Review, Trailers, Photos, Agni Varsha Videos – Yahoo! India Movies|date=23 September 2010}}</ref>

==Plot==
In a kingdom stricken with drought for many years, Arvasu ([[Milind Soman]]), a brahman loves Nittilai ([[Sonali Kulkarni]]) a tribal girl, who seeks approval of her father and village's elders before marrying him. Arvasu's brother, Paravasu ([[Jackie Shroff]]) has been conducting a major fire sacrifice, the [[yajna]] ceremony, for seven long years to appease the god of rains, [[Indra|Devraj]] ([[Amitabh Bachchan]]). Arvasu's father, Raibhya dislikes both his sons and suspects Vishaka ([[Raveena Tandon]]) Parvasu's wife, of having an affair with Yavakri ([[Akkineni Nagarjuna|Nagarjuna]]), based on the fact that Yavarki and Vishaka loved each other, before Yavarki left village to worship Devraj Indra in order to attain Brahma Jnana, supreme divine powers. After his return, Yavakri tries pursues Vishakha regularly on her way from the well. She, at first, refuses him but ultimately gives up and they start making love in the woods. Nittilai and Aravasu see them. Yavakri detests Nittilai's frankness and her doubts as to his divine powers. He curses her to die within a month.

Upon reaching home, on being accused of adultery by Raibhya, Vishakha enraged tells him that she was with Yavakri. An enraged Raibhya summons a dark force, Brahma Rakshas ([[Prabhu Deva]]) to kill Yavarki. He also declares that Yavakri can save himself if he enters the ashram of his father, this shall declare him as a coward. Yavakri, wanting to prove his strength waits for the demon to arrive. Vishakha warns him and tells him to flee to his father's ashram, which would allow both him and Riabhya to live; otherwise, if Yavakri defeats the Brahma Rakshas, Raibhya would have to immolate himself. But Yavakri refuses to be defensive and a dispute of distrust erupts between Yavakri and Vishakha, leading to an act of defiance by Vishakha. The demon slays Yavakri as he now runs to seek refuge in his father's ashram. Vishakha pleads Arvasu to cremate him; this delays his appointment with Nittilai's father and her village elders, and, as a result, she is forced to marry a fellow tribesman.

Parvasu sneaks in the night to meet Vishakha. Vishakha confesses everything and begs him to kill her, but Paravasu raises the arrow and shoots at his father. On his way back to yajna site, he is met by the demon, who calls him brother and as a cursed soul seeks salvation at his hands, but Paravasu rudely ignores him. The next day when Aravasu comes to the yajna site after cremating his father Paravasu blames Arvasu for the slaying and has him badly beaten up. When Nittilai hears of this, she comes to the rescue of Arvasu and finds that she is being hunted by her husband and her brother, who will kill her on sight for dishonoring the tribe's customs.

Sutradhar ([[Raghubir Yadav|Raghuvir Yadav]]) arranges an act to entertain the Devas and chooses Arvasu an important role. During the act, under the influence of bhang, Arvasu goes berserk, destroying the ''havan'' and throwing the offerings to the starved locals. Nittilai, in an attempt to stop Arvasu, exposes herself and is killed by her husband; Parvasu admits failure, confessing his murder of his father and cremate's himself in the yajna's pyre. Finally appeased, Devraj Indra appears, and Arvasu is allowed a wish of his choice. Brahm Rakshas comes and begs him to set his soul free while Aravasu himself wants Nittilai back to live. Indra tells him that to bring back Nittilai he will have to turn the time back and to set the demon's soul free he will have to turn the time wheel forward. Aravasu, with teary eyes, asks Indra to set the Demon's soul free, which is followed by rain.

==Cast==
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as [[Indra|Devraj]]
* [[Akkineni Nagarjuna|Nagarjuna]] as Yavakri
* [[Jackie Shroff]] as Paravasu
* [[Raveena Tandon]] as Vishakha
* [[Milind Soman]] as Arvasu
* [[Prabhu Deva]] as Rakshasa
* [[Mohan Agashe]] as Raibhya
* Kumar Iyengar as Senior Courtier
* [[Sonali Kulkarni]] as Nittilai
* [[Raghuvir Yadav]] as Actor Manager (Sutradhar)
* Nikita Athena Rajwade
* [[Deepti Bhatnagar]] as [[item number]] ''Anchal Ki Chhaya''

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Agni Varsha
| type = film
| artist = [[Sandesh Shandilya]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2002
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| length = 25:07
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...]]
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = [[Chameli (film)|Chameli]]
| next_year = 2003
}}
Music composed by [[Sandesh Shandilya]]. Lyrics written by [[Javed Akhtar]]. Music released on [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]].
{{Track listing
| collapsed =
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 25:07
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| writing_credits =
| lyrics_credits =
| music_credits =

| title5 = Prem Ki Varsha
| extra5 = [[Alka Yagnik]]
| length5 = 5:02

| title1 = Anchal Ki Chhaya
| extra1 = [[Pamela Jain]]
| length1 = 5:34

| title2 = Chal Re Sajan
| extra2 = [[Jaspinder Narula]]
| length2 = 5:10

| title3 = Din Andhiyaare
| extra3 = [[Sultan Khan (musician)|Ustad Sultan Khan]]
| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = Dole Re
| extra4 = [[KK (singer)|KK]], [[K S Chithra]]
| length4 = 5:09
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0326722|Agnivarsha: The Fire and the Rain}}
* {{mojo title |id=agnivarsha |title=Agnivarsha – The Fire and the Rain}}

{{Works based on the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films based on the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Films about the caste system in India]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy films]]
[[Category:Films about religion]]
[[Category:2002 fantasy films]]

Agni Varsha - Revision history

MichalKohn: updated structure based on references and corrected details

>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Films about the Indian caste system to :Category:Films about the caste system in India per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy