Peepli Live - Movie Review

Cast: Omkar Das, Raghubir Yadav, Farrukh Jaffar, Naseeruddin Shah, Shalini Vatsa

Producer: Aamir Khan

Director: Anusha Rizvi

Co-Director: Mahmood Farooqui

Distributed by: UTV Motion Pictures

Writer: Anusha Rizvi

Rating: ***1/2

Natha (Omkar Das) is a poor farmer from a village called Peepli in central India. He is about to lose his land due to an unpaid government loan. The fear of losing his land puts him in a fix and he goes to a political leader for help. He is advised to commit suicide as that would fetch him some fast buck from the government's programme that aids the family of the farmers who have committed suicide. Natha's brother Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) coaxes him to actually commit suicide so that his piece of land will remain with the family members.

Incidentally, the elections are round the corner and all the political parties jump in to hog the limelight in the pretext of helping Natha. The media too participates actively in portraying every bit of news. How the political parties are trying to encash the best out of this situation and how the media is trying to put the facts straight in their own way, forms the crux of the story.

The burning topic of Peepli is whether Natha will commit suicide or not. Then one day the media declares Natha dead in an accidental death. Unfortunately, the poor family does not get the desired amount which they could have received if Natha had committed suicide. But what actually happened to Natha is something no one is trying to find out. While the sole aim of the political parties is to win the elections, the inquisitive media is forever running after breaking news and TRPs.

Debutante director Anusha Rizvi shows good grasp over matters related to the media as well as the political scenario. Despite any stars in the cast, she has very efficiently managed to weave a satirical tale around the issues faced by farmers. The comic punches are enjoyable. The censor board seems to have been lenient with the movie considering they've let go of the swear words and rustic language of the central provinces which has been used liberally in the film.

Omkar Das looks the character and has showcased a brilliant performance. Same goes with Raghubir Yadav and Naseeruddin Shah. Farrukh Jaffar, who plays the foulmouthed mother-in-law, performs with zeal even at this age. Last but not the least, Shalini Vatsa, who plays Natha's wife Dhania, dares to keep her forever-cribbing 'sasu' in place with her daring performance.

Fusion rock band Indian Ocean mark their comeback on the Bollywood map with their compositions 'Darte ho' and 'Desh mera' which sound quite different.

The miserable life of farmers who comprise of almost 70 percent of India's population has been portrayed in a meticulous yet light manner in the film and it surely merits a watch. It will certainly not come as a surprise if 'Peepli Live' goes on to do exceptionally well at the box office as well.

By Lipika Varma / Sanskriti Media & Entertainment