AGNI PANKH (2004)

Starring: Jimmy Shergill, Rahul Dev, Shamita Shetty and Richa Pallod
Director: Sunjiv Puri
Music: Pritam

PREDICTED RATING: 3/10

New Bollywood director Sunjiv Puri begins his career with a movie dealing with the Indian air force. Titled Agni Pankh, the film stars reunited Jimmy Shergill and Shamita Shetty, who have previously worked together in the Yash Raj films Mohabbatein and Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. The cast list also includes Rahul Dev and Richa Pallod.

Hailed as a tribute to the Indian air force and based on a true story, the film shows how people mix their professional duties with their personal lives. This gives space for a routine Bollywood love angle, featuring a complex web of relationships. Female pilot and tomboy Anjana (Shamita Shetty) secretly fancies co-worker Sameer (Sameer Dharmadhikari) who's already in love with Surabhi (Richa Pallod), who in turn falls for local heartthrob Siddharth (Jimmy Shergill). Confusing stuff! However their romance is put aside when the political relationship between India and Pakistan worsens and they are called into action.

Acclaimed director J. P. Dutta recently failed to capture an audience for his recent war flick Line of Control, despite a massive budget and amazing cast list. Therefore the producers of Agni Pankh, which hasn't generated much hype, may have reason for concern.

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: February 2004

PREVIEWED BY ROBEEL HAQ