When Aamir Khan produces a film, or is associated with any film in the capacity of an actor, be prepared for the unpredictable. Films like Taare Zameen Par & 3 Idiots took pot shots at the schooling process in India & Peepli Live, directed by Anusha Rizvi, is a tongue-in-cheek satire on the farmers' suicides & the role of vote-hungry politicians & the over-enthusiastic, TRP-seeking desperate electronic media jostling for eyeballs.
Come to think of it, the idea [farmers' suicides] would instinctively translate in to a serious, thought-provoking film. But Peepli Live takes a grim & solemn issue, turns it in to a satire, garnishes it with populist sentiment & makes a far greater impact than a mere documentary, had it tackled the burning issue. In fact, like all Aamir Khan films, Peepli Live marries realism with a winning box-office formula most wonderfully.
A tragic fact of our society is that bad news attracts instant attention. In Peepli Live, an impoverished man offers to commit suicide so that his relatives can benefit from a government grant - a dark subject matter which is handled in a delightfully comic manner. In fact, it is a terrific satire about a troubled India, the shining India, the industrialised India that is seldom depicted on the Hindi screen.
Peepli Live focuses on the poorest of the poor in India & it not only highlights the plight of a farmer in a small corner of a sizable country, but also throws light on the varied individuals who exploit the situation to their advantage, right from the politicians to the bureaucrats to the TV reporters to the local people. In fact, Peepli Live makes a scathing assault on the functioning of media in India & how media persons, depicted as vultures, usually stoop to the lowest levels to increase the ratings of their tv channel/show.
The best part is that at no point does the film gets preachy or starts offering solutions to the grave issue. It is a mere device that the makers have used to discuss bureaucracy, the rural & urban divide & lack of concern of the administration.
Final word? This tragi-comedy, a amazing satire, is not to be missed.
Natha [Omkar Das Manikpuri], a poor farmer from Peepli village in the heart of rural India, is about to lose his plot of land due to an unpaid government loan. A speedy fix to the issue is the government's program that aids the families of indebted farmers who have committed suicide. As a way of survival, Natha chooses to die. His brother [Raghubur Yadav] is happy to push him towards this unique honour.
Local elections are around the corner & what might've been another unnoticed event turns in to a cause célèbre, with everyone wanting a piece of the action. Political bigwigs, high-ranking bureaucrats, local henchmen & the ever-zealous media descend on sleepy Peepli to stake their claim. Natha's brother [Farrukh Jaffer] screams at his spouse [Shalini Vatsa], while his young son urges papa to go through with the suicide so he can use the money to become a policeman.
One TV journalist, in a desperate search for a used angle, tries to examine Natha's faeces to choose his emotional state. Nobody seems to care how Natha feels.
Peepli Live tells the story of today: Rural society, the games politicians play, the bureaucracy & the manipulative electronic media. It is a well penned & well executed film that deals with a serious issue in a witty & entertaining manner. Although actual, it creates a world filled with vivid characters & incidents & keeps the viewer engrossed throughout.
First-time director Anusha Rizvi handles the subject material like a veteran. Her script is tight & witty & her handling of a difficult subject deserves kudos. What sets the film apart is that it is unlike a typical Bollywood film. In fact, you cannot draw parallels with any film, past or present. & that is what goes in favour of this film, since virgin subjects handled with utmost sensitivity & maturity is the order of the day. Even the finale is most appropriate & absolutely befitting the content of the film. In a nutshell, Anusha scores a sixer in her debut.
The music, composed by multiple artists, is Indian to the core & borrows heavily from folk music. The hugely popular - 'Mehangayee Daayan' - is the pick of the lot, without doubt. Cinematography is appropriate. Dialogue, laced with expletives, are truly fantastic & most importantly, actual.
Manikpuri is amazing as Natha. Raghubir Yadav shines as the opportunist brother. Malaika Shenoy [as the TV reporter] is exceptional. Shalini Vatsa [as Natha's wife] is outstanding. Ditto for Farrukh Jaffer [Natha's bed-ridden mother]. In fact, the constant tu-tu-main-main between the saas-bahu is thoroughly enjoyable. Nawazuddin Siddiqui [as Rakesh, the local journalist] is natural. Vishal Sharma [as Kumar Deepak, the rival journalist] is top notch. Naseeruddin Shah is first-rate as the conniving, shrewd politician. The remaining cast - there're lots of actors in the film - pitch in believable performances.
On the whole, Peepli Live is definite to ride initially on the strength & credibility of its iconic actor/producer Aamir Khan & one time that is achieved, the powerful content is definite to speak for itself. Peepli Live is a film that would not only appeal to Indians, but is definite to reach out to audiences beyond India. Basically amazing!
Director: Anusha Rizvi
Cast: Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuveer Yadav, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O Sharma
