Agni REVIEW: Pratik Gandhi makes you feel the heat with his earnest & raw performance; Divyendu shines as an IPS officer

Film:
Agni

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Writer: Rahul Dholakia, Vijay Maurya

Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Saiyami Kher, Jitendra Joshi and Sai Tamhankar

Runtime: 124minutes (2 hours, 4 minutes)

Platform: Prime Video

Agni Review

Did you know, Mumbai firefighters work 48-hour shifts while those in Delhi work 72-hour shifts? During a quick chat with Pratik Gandhi after the screening, the film’s lead star shared this interesting detail with me.

Over the years, we have seen countless films and shows centred on the lives of IPS officers, army personnel and even bureaucratic agencies; however, we haven’t been served anything dedicated to the ups and downs the firefighters in our country face. Co-written and directed by Rahul Dholakia, Agni is a raw film dedicated to these unsung heroes who risk their lives day in and day out to help the people of their country in all their troubles – be it big or small.

Agni revolves around the life of the Chief of Parel Fire Station Vitthal Rao (Pratik Gandhi) and his team – comprising of Avni Purohit (Saiyami Kher), Jazz (Udit Arora) and others, who risk their lives several times a day to save others. Aside from the firefighters – who receive little to no recognition for their work, the film also focuses on Vitthal’s successful IPS brother-in-law, Samit Sawant (Divyenndu). The two are always at loggerheads be it at work or while with family. Despite his father being respected by many for his work, Vitthal’s son only considers Samit his hero.

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The 2-hour-long film begins by taking us straight into the heat of a deadly fire that has broken out at a popular restaurant in Mumbai. This fire – which shares similar traits to recent fires that have engulfed the city, burns with a blue-ish hue instead of the usual yellow and orange flames, emitting enough heat to melt metal. With back-to-back similar fires breaking out throughout the city, Vitthal and Avni – who is spearheading the investigation, suspect arson.

Is it really arson? Who is responsible for it? Will Vitthal be able to catch the culprit before it’s too late? To know these answers, you will need to watch Agni and here’s our honest review of it.

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What Works

Rahul Dholakia and Vijay Maurya’s earnest efforts in highlighting the life of the firefighters in the country without overdramatising the narrative is one of the biggest reasons why Agni needs to be watched. Aside from its story, Pratik Gandhi giving his heart and soul in bringing Vitthal to life deserves a watch more than once. Vitthal’s peer Mahadev Vishwakarma Nigade (Jitendra Joshi) will also make you emotional with his acting and dialogues.

What Doesn’t Work

It seems like Avni’s track was unintentionally given stepchild treatment as there is no strong explanation behind how she still manages to remain level-headed just days after her long time boyfriend/fiancé dies after sustaining severe burns in a fire. For context, Vitthal has a major meltdown and loses his cool on both his wife, Rukmini (Sai Tamhankar) and son.

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Technical Analysis

Story

Rahul Dholakia deserves a round of applause for telling the stories of firefighters like a celebratory ode for the first time in a very, very long time. The National Award-winning filmmaker and co-writer Vijay Maurya have delivered a gut-wrenching and earnest film that deserves to be seen by one and all to understand the sacrifices the firefighters of our country make in order to keep us safe and secure.

Direction

Rahul has once more impressed us and proved why he received a National Award in 2007 for Parzania. He has beautifully told the heartbreaking stories of unrecognised but still selfless firefighters without making it feel like a propaganda film or a sob story.

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Cinematography

The cinematographer deserves a special mention in this Agni review for capturing the essence of the firefighter community in Mumbai. From showcasing the middle-class housing the servicemen are provided to recreating the feels of a 2017 Mumbai, he has hit the bull’s eye.

Editing

The film’s editing is good, with a steady pace maintained from the get-go.

Sound & Music

While there are no songs in the film, the 2-hour-long drama based on the life of firefighters doesn’t seem too heavy to consume. The BGM is on point and – if heard on surround sound, will leave you with goosebumps.

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Star Performances

The star performer of Agni is Pratik Gandhi as the Chief of Parel Fire Station Vitthal Rao. The actor – who has also entertained us in 2024 as Pratik ‘Pinku’ Goradia in Madgaon Express and Anirrudh ‘Ani’ Banerjee in Do Aur Do Pyaar, has delivered a gut-wrenching performance that will make you emotional. From his friendly conversations with Jazz to the dynamics he shared with all his family members, Pratik has given his soul to the film and it’s clearly visible. You will feel his frustration, loss and heartbreak just by looking into his eyes.

Divyendu Sharma as Vitthal’s successful – even if it’s by illegal means, brother-in-law, has a less meaty role than Pratik but still manages to stand out every time he appears on screen. He’s a gray character and Divyendu pulls it off perfectly. Given the stellar performances of Gandhi and Sharma, Saiyami Kher fails to shine in the scenes they share together – and it’s not her fault.

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Sacred Games fame Jitendra Joshi as firefighter Mahadev also leaves an impact. His character arc will leave you astonished and he does complete justice in essaying it. Sai Tamhankar, as Vitthal’s wife Rukmini, does a good job and will make you feel the anxiety a firefighter’s wife faces as she removes his nazar every time he’s back home from duty. The other supporting cast does a commendable job of bringing to life the day-to-day struggles the firefighters of Mumbai face.

Conclusion

If you want to end your year with a bang, Rahul Dholakia’s Agni needs to be on your watch list. From Pratik Gandhi and Divyendu’s acting to the gripping storyline that will have you on the edge of your seat till the end credits roll by, do not skip this film. PS: Do not watch this film on your phone, try to find the biggest monitor you can screen it – with surround sound if possible, to experience the chills this eye-opening drama has to offer to the fullest. Hope our Agni review compels you to watch the film this weekend.

Watch the trailer of Agni here:

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