Peepli Live

Casts : Raghubir Yadav, Omkar Das Manikpuri, Malaika Shenoy, Shalini Vatsa, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Farukh Jaffer, Vishal O Sharma  Director : Anusha Rizvi     Producer : Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao       Writer :     Anusha Rizvi Screenplay :  Anusha Rizvi Editor   :   Hemanti Sarkar         Music : Indian Ocean, Brij Mandal, Bhadwai, Nageen Tanvir, Ram Sampat     Release Date : August 13, 2010

Story line and other highlights:‘Peepli Live’ is a satire, which revolves around a villager from Central India called Natha,his brother Budhia and their family. The family is about to lose their land because they are unable to repay a loan, when, they hear of a government programme which offers the family of any farmer committing suicide a compensation of rupees 100,000 ($2000). The older brother convinces his sibling into agreeing to commit suicide. This sets in motion a chain of events which finds Natha in the eye of a storm. The local big wigs, the state government, high ranking bureaucrats, federal ministers and the national media all become stakeholders in the mad circus that erupts. This is the story of India today. Rural society, the bureaucracy, media, politics and life. 

Peepli Live is an upcoming Bollywood film which is produced by Aamir Khan. Directed and written by Anusha Rizvi in her first directorial venture, the film stars Naya Theatre company member Omkar Das Manikpuri as well as Raghubir Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Malaika Shenoy along with a number of newcomers. Peepli Live, distributed by UTV Motion Pictures is scheduled for release on August 13, 2010. A satire on the farmers’ suicides and subsequent media and political response , Peepli Live is competing in the Sundance Film Festival, the first film from Bollywood to achieve this feat. However for the Indian release the film got an ‘A’ adult certificate. The movie has been picked up by specialty German distribution company Rapid Eye Movies for a special screening at the ongoing Berlin International Film Festival. 

My Gut Feel and comments : Peepli Live is a directorial debut of Anusha Rizvi backed by strong  production house with great publicity which would definitely give the a good opening to the movie. With the brand like Amir Khan’s association with the film and unique cast and interesting story line this movie seems to be an great selling product which would appeal to both masses and urban metro city audiences.  Movie is dealing with the serious matter of Farmer suicides in light humor way which would definitely do the trick and I am optimistic that this movie would be a success at box office as well being a low budget movie. I would give 4 out of 5 stars two day’s before all over India release of the movie.