Trishagni

Trishagni (English title:The Sand Storm) was a 1988 Hindi film directed by Nabendu Ghosh. It marked the directorial debut of noted screenwriter of Bimal Roy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee classics. The film was based on a historical short story set some time after the Asokan Missions, Moru O Sangho written by Saradindu Bandopadhyay, and inspired by Buddha's Fire Sermon,^[1] and starred Nana Patekar, Pallavi Joshi and Alok Nath in the lead roles.

The film received critical acclaim,^[2] and was awarded the 1988 National Film Award for Best First Film of a Director, 'For excellent exploration of complex philosophical theme for the first time in Indian cinema..^[3]

Synopsis

The film is set in the Buddhist town of Sariput in the deserts of Central Asia, around 200 B.C., when the town is struck by a devastating sandstorm that leaves behind only four survivors: two monks, and two children taking refuge in the monastery. Twenty years later, the monks have aged, while the boy (Nitish Bhardwaj) and the girl (Pallavi Joshi) have grown and fall in love. The jealous monk deceitfully persuades the boy to become a monk, but the girl wins him back. As a result both are expelled from the monastery, and that is when the sandstorm strikes once again.^[4]

Cast

• Nana Patekar as Uchanda
• Pallavi Joshi as Iti
• Alok Nath as Pithumitta
• Nitish Bharadwaj as Nirvana

Director's Statement

Gautama Buddha has fascinated me since my student days in Patna. Born a prince, he renounced every pleasure in life and set forth in quest of a Truth, a 'Bodha" that would help mankind attain peace in his lifetime. His statues in museums generated an inner feeling of content and peace. Years later, I recognized the unique vision of Gautam Buddha when I came across his Agni Upadesh in a story in Bengali literature. The sermon says, everything in this world is burning with desire. It prompted me to make Trishagni. Yes, the universe is burning with vaasana, desire, and our mission in life should be to free ourselves from desires that consume us like fire. Only then can we achieve Nirvana - a state of endless tranquility.

Special Mention

Trishagni is also one of the films featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed

References

1. ↑ Bibekananda Ray; Naveen Joshi (2005). Conscience of the race: India's offbeat cinema. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Publications Division. p. 69. ISBN 8123012985. 
2. ↑ Gulzar; Govind Nihalani, Saibal Chatterjee, Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) (2003). Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 554. ISBN 8179910660.  Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
3. ↑ "36th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 
4. ↑ "Trishagni". induna. 

External links

• Trishagni at the Internet Movie Database