Trishagni (English: The Sand Storm) is a 1988 Hindi film directed by Nabendu Ghosh, who also co-wrote the screenplay. ^{[2] [3]} 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. ^[4] The film starred Nana Patekar, Aloknath, Nitish Bharadwaj, Pallavi Joshi in the lead roles. ^[2]

The film received critical acclaim, ^[5] 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.". ^{[6] [7]}

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 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 up and fallen 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, which is when the sandstorm strikes again. ^{[8] [9]}

• Nana Patekar as Uchanda
• Aloknath as Thera
• Pallavi Joshi as Iti
• Nitish Bharadwaj as Nirvana

The film contains only one song, composed by Salil Chowdhury.

• "Aisa Lage Kahin Door Se" - Asha Bhosle

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

• Trishagni at IMDb
• [1]
• Review Essay in Visual Anthropology