AHooda-B-Hills

Agni (2024), directed by Rahul Dholakia and starring Pratik Gandhi, is a stirring tribute to the unsung warriors behind Mumbai's fire lines. Its emotional core, dramatic tension, and standout lead performance combine to deliver a deeply affecting cinematic experience.

In Sanskrit, Agni is the sacred word for fire, not merely the physical element, but a divine force. In the Vedic worldview, Agni is a god, the mouth of the Devtas, the carrier of offerings between heaven and earth. Fire in this context represents purification, transformation, sacrifice, and transcendence. This primal word, Agni, did not stay within India. It journeyed across languages and cultures, leaving its fiery imprint across the ancient world. In Latin, Agni became Ignis, the root of English words like ignite, ignition, and igneous. The idea of fire as energy, spark, or divine light is preserved here.

Interestingly, Agni also echoes through Christian traditions, albeit in more symbolic forms. The Latin word Agnus, meaning "lamb", appears in the sacred term Agnus Dei, the "Lamb of God", a being offered as a sacrifice, often by fire. Even names like Agnes, derived from the Greek Hagne (from Sanskrit Agni) meaning "pure," were later linked to fire through legends of saints martyred by burning, again, fire as a test of purity and transformation.

So when we watch Agni, we are not just watching a firefighter story. We are watching a modern parable of the eternal fire, the one that consumes and purifies, destroys and uplifts. The fire within.

After Scam 1992, Gandhi once again delivers a layered, restrained, and powerful portrayal. As Vitthal Rao Surve, a firefighter torn between duty and family, his presence feels both visceral and authentic. His subtle intensity captures the invisible heroism of those who fight fires without seeking glory.

As one of Bollywood's first films centered on firefighters, Agni shines by portraying the profession with realism and empathy. Through Vithal's journey and his emotional struggle to connect with his son, the film explores what truly defines heroism: spectacle or sacrifice?

The film delves into internal struggles, between public recognition and unseen toil. This dynamic, especially visible in Vithal's fraught relationship with his son who idolizes a "heroic cop" instead, enriches the narrative with true pathos and reflection .

While the emotional stakes remain high, some parts of the conspiracy subplot feel underexplored. A few pacing switch-ups and occasional didactic tones slightly interrupt the flow; but never enough to derail the impact.

Sikandar is an absolute trainwreck of a film. The story is hollow, the direction is non-sensical, and the entire premise feels like it was stitched together overnight with zero thought. The characters have no depth or emotional weight-especially Sikandar, who loses any moral compass he might've had as the film drags on. There's no clear motivation behind his actions, no internal conflict, no character arc-just chaos pretending to be a plot.

The storyline involving Sikandar's wife death and Sikandar tracking down the recipients of their organ donations to "help them" is not just bizarre, but emotionally and philosophically empty. It tries to be profound but ends up being completely pointless.

What makes it worse is that it seems to beg for emotional connection without earning it. Compare that to Bajrangi Bhaijaan-a film where Salman took Munni to Pakistan. That made emotional sense. There was a clear purpose, a heartfelt journey, and genuine stakes. Sikandar tries to pull on similar strings but fails miserably. It lacks clarity, logic, and soul.

Sajid Nadiadwala investing in this film is baffling. And Salman agreeing to act in it? Even more so. This movie is a masterclass in how not to tell a story.