Cast: Jackie Shroff, Nagarjuna, Prabhu Devaa,
Milind Soman, Raveena Tandon, Sonali Kulkarni, Mohan
Agashe, Amitabh Bachchan in a special appearance.
Director: Arjun Sajnani
Producer: I Dreams
Music: Sandesh Shandilya
Story
In
order to please Indra for rains in a drought hit kingdom,
Paravasu, the chief priest performs a mythical yagna,
which is a seven-year ritual. He forbids all his wordly
pleasures including his wife Visakha(Raveena Tandon).
Yavakri (Nagarjuna) loves Visakha before her marriage.
But in his quest for Brahma gyana he leaves Visakha
to practice austerities in the jungle. After 10 years
of meditation he feels that he attained Brahma gyana
and returns back to find that Visakha married Paravasu.
The encounter of Yavakri with Lord Indra and Yavakri's
thoughs on attaining Brahma gyana are inquisitive. Visakha
being abandoned by her husband is in a vulnerable position
and succumbs to Yuvakri. Visakha's father-in-law, Rishi
Raibhya (Mohan Agashe) comes to know about this, Rishi
Raibhya follows Yavakri to seek his own vengeance, which
leads to irrecoverable actions.
Paravasu's
younger brother, Aravasu (Milind Soman), loves a tribal
girl Nittilai (Sonali Kulkarni) and has a passion for
theatre, neither of which endears him to his Brahmin
family. He becomes a victim of Rishi Raibhya and Paravasu's
deeds.
Artists
Director
Arjun adapts Girish Karnad's play, which is derived
from the Mahabharat. It wonderfully blends all the elements
- power, love, sacrifice, jealous and betrayal. It is
shot in the 13th century ruins of humpi, which gave
a natural look to the movie. Cinematographer Anil Mehta,
art director Shashi Adappa and Sajnani create a stunning
backdrop, which takes the viewer to a different era.
All the actors performed well. Even though Amitabh is
in a guest role he makes his mark on the movie. The
movie takes the audience by a spell from the beginning
to end.
Analyis:
Yet
another movie on drought and rain after Lagaan and Indra(Telugu)
this movie is on a different note. Visakha shows how
an emotionally vulnerable person goes through turmoil
of emotions because of love. Rishi Raibhya and Paravasu
show how greed for power leads to destruction. Yuvakri
shows how revenge succumbs ones own life. Aravasu shows
how people can take advantage over a good-hearted person.
While Nittilai shows how love with compassion leads
to selflessness. Thus, a wonderful blend of all emotions
this film is certainly worth viewing.
|