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
and
3
Idiots
took
pot
shots
at
the
education
system
in
India
and
Peepli
Live,
directed
by
Anusha
Rizvi,
is
a
tongue-in-cheek
satire
on
the
farmers'
suicides
and
the
role
of
vote-hungry
politicians
and
the
over-enthusiastic,
TRP-seeking
desperate
electronic
media
jostling
for
eyeballs.
Come
to
think
of
it,
the
concept
[farmers'
suicides]
would
instinctively
translate
into
a
serious,
thought-provoking
film.
But
Peepli
Live
takes
a
grim
and
solemn
issue,
turns
it
into
a
satire,
garnishes
it
with
populist
sentiment
and
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
brilliantly.
A
sad
fact
of
our
society
is
that
bad
news
attracts
instant
attention.
In
Peepli
Live,
an
impoverished
man
offers
to
commit
suicide
so
that
his
family
can
benefit
from
a
government
grant
-
a
dark
subject
matter
which
is
dealt
with
in
a
delightfully
humorous
manner.
In
fact,
it's
a
terrific
satire
about
a
troubled
India,
the
shining
India,
the
industrialised
India
that's
rarely
depicted
on
the
Hindi
screen.
Peepli
Live
focuses
on
the
poorest
of
the
poor
in
India
and
it
not
only
highlights
the
plight
of
a
farmer
in
a
tiny
corner
of
a
giant
country,
but
also
throws
light
on
the
varied
people
who
exploit
the
situation
to
their
advantage,
right
from
the
politicians
to
the
bureaucrats
to
the
television
reporters
to
the
local
people.
In
fact,
Peepli
Live
makes
a
scathing
attack
on
the
functioning
of
media
in
India
and
how
media
persons,
depicted
as
vultures,
generally
stoop
to
the
lowest
levels
to
increase
the
ratings
of
their
television
channel/show.
The
best
part
is
that
at
no
point
does
the
film
gets
preachy
or
starts
offering
solutions
to
the
grave
issue.
It's
a
mere
tool
that
the
makers
have
used
to
discuss
bureaucracy,
the
rural
and
urban
divide
and
lack
of
concern
of
the
administration.
Final
word?
This
tragi-comedy,
a
brilliant
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
quick
fix
to
the
problem
is
the
government's
program
that
aids
the
families
of
indebted
farmers
who
have
committed
suicide.
As
a
means
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
and
what
might've
been
another
unnoticed
event
turns
into
a
cause
celèbre,
with
everyone
wanting
a
piece
of
the
action.
Political
bigwigs,
high-ranking
bureaucrats,
local
henchmen
and
the
ever-zealous
media
descend
upon
sleepy
Peepli
to
stake
their
claim.
Natha's
mother
[Farrukh
Jaffer]
screams
at
his
wife
[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
new
angle,
tries
to
examine
Natha's
faeces
to
determine
his
emotional
state.
Nobody
seems
to
care
how
Natha
really
feels.
Peepli
Live
tells
the
story
of
today:
Rural
society,
the
games
politicians
play,
the
bureaucracy
and
the
manipulative
electronic
media.
It's
a
well
penned
and
well
executed
film
that
deals
with
a
serious
issue
in
a
witty
and
entertaining
manner.
Although
very
real,
it
creates
a
world
full
of
vivid
characters
and
incidents
and
keeps
the
viewer
engrossed
throughout.
First-time
director
Anusha
Rizvi
handles
the
subject
material
like
a
veteran.
Her
script
is
tight
and
witty
and
her
handling
of
a
difficult
subject
deserves
kudos.
What
really
sets
the
film
apart
is
that
it
is
unlike
a
typical
Bollywood
film.
In
fact,
you
can't
draw
parallels
with
any
film,
past
or
present.
And
that's
what
goes
in
favour
of
this
film,
since
virgin
subjects
handled
with
utmost
sensitivity
and
maturity
is
the
order
of
the
day.
Even
the
finale
is
most
appropriate
and
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
and
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
and
most
importantly,
real.
Manikpuri
is
brilliant
as
Natha.
Raghubir
Yadav
shines
as
the
opportunist
brother.
Malaika
Shenoy
[as
the
television
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
sure
to
ride
initially
on
the
strength
and
credibility
of
its
iconic
actor/producer
Aamir
Khan
and
once
that
is
achieved,
the
powerful
content
is
sure
to
speak
for
itself.
Peepli
Live
is
a
film
that
would
not
only
appeal
to
Indians,
but
is
sure
to
reach
out
to
audiences
beyond
India.
Simply
brilliant!
Director:
Anusha
Rizvi
Cast:
Omkar
Das
Manikpuri,
Raghuveer
Yadav,
Malaika
Shenoy,
Nawazuddin
Siddiqui,
Shalini
Vatsa,
Farrukh
Jaffer,
Vishal
O
Sharma