Pics:Peepli Live
Pics:Screening of Peepli Live
Pics:Music launch of Peepli Live
Real villages are so few and far between in Bollywood movies that it seems a daring step if a filmmaker decides to make a film on farmers' problems in the country.
But with Peepli Live debutante director Anusha Rizvi, who has also written the story, gives a beautiful story. Aamir Khan, film's producer, has said that the movie is not about farmers' suicide and he is right.
The issue here is beyond farmers' suicide. The film deals with the growing divide between two Indias and how one is shining at the cost of other. It is also Rizvi's tribute to Premchand's hero Hori from 'Godan', whose destiny remains unchanged even as the faces representing the power keep changing.
The political response and media frenzy surrounding Natha's suicide evoke many laughs but the pathos in the story ensures that the film conveys its message successfully.
Peepli Live begins with the story of simple minded farmer Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri), who is talked into committing suicide by his brother Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) when they lose their land to the bank after failing to repay theirdebt. Budhia convinces his brother that their family will benefit as government has many relief benefits for the families of farmers who kill themselves.
Their drunken conversation is heard by a local journalist, who writes a story in his newspaper. Soon the TRP hungry news channels lap up the story because as one TV reporters puts it, "chance to cover a live suicide comes once in a while". Natha's impending death becomes a national obsession.
Natha finds himself in a new predicament: his every movement is tracked by prying cameras. He can't even go to bathroom without the cameras following him. While channels beam live and exclusive interviews with Natha's villager friends, no one has the time to ask whether he actually wants to die.
The film has no big Bollywood star except Aamir who is behind the screen as producer. Rizvi has picked up actors from Habib Tanvir's theatre group Naya Theatre and they have done an authentic job.
Actors like Omkar Das Manikpuri (Natha), Raghuvir Yadav (Budhia), Shalini Vatsa (Natha's wife Dhania), Farrukh Jaffar (Natha's mother), Malaika Shenoy (TV journalist), VishalSharma (TV journalist), Nowaz (A newspaper journalist) and Naseeruddin Shah in a small role of a shrewd politician, Salim Kidwai, are so comfortable in their character's skin that the actor and character meld into one.
Raghubir puts up a seasoned performance and Jaffar, who played Rekha's mother in the old Umrao Jaan is amazing as the loud-mouthed, beedi-smoking mother.
Shenoy, Sharma and Nowaz are satirical representations of the pressures of Indian journalism.
Rizvi also brings in local Badwai villagers in walk-on roles and they are brilliant and authentic.
The Habib Tanvir legacy is represented by his daughter Nageen and her soulful rendition of the Chattisgarhi folk song Chola Maati Ka. For those interested in fusion music, the film offers two Indian Ocean numbers Des Mera and Zindagi Se Darte Ho to savour and applaud.
Pics:Screening of Peepli Live
Pics:Music launch of Peepli Live
Real villages are so few and far between in Bollywood movies that it seems a daring step if a filmmaker decides to make a film on farmers' problems in the country.
But with Peepli Live debutante director Anusha Rizvi, who has also written the story, gives a beautiful story. Aamir Khan, film's producer, has said that the movie is not about farmers' suicide and he is right.
The issue here is beyond farmers' suicide. The film deals with the growing divide between two Indias and how one is shining at the cost of other. It is also Rizvi's tribute to Premchand's hero Hori from 'Godan', whose destiny remains unchanged even as the faces representing the power keep changing.
The political response and media frenzy surrounding Natha's suicide evoke many laughs but the pathos in the story ensures that the film conveys its message successfully.
Peepli Live begins with the story of simple minded farmer Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri), who is talked into committing suicide by his brother Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) when they lose their land to the bank after failing to repay theirdebt. Budhia convinces his brother that their family will benefit as government has many relief benefits for the families of farmers who kill themselves.
Their drunken conversation is heard by a local journalist, who writes a story in his newspaper. Soon the TRP hungry news channels lap up the story because as one TV reporters puts it, "chance to cover a live suicide comes once in a while". Natha's impending death becomes a national obsession.
Natha finds himself in a new predicament: his every movement is tracked by prying cameras. He can't even go to bathroom without the cameras following him. While channels beam live and exclusive interviews with Natha's villager friends, no one has the time to ask whether he actually wants to die.
The film has no big Bollywood star except Aamir who is behind the screen as producer. Rizvi has picked up actors from Habib Tanvir's theatre group Naya Theatre and they have done an authentic job.
Actors like Omkar Das Manikpuri (Natha), Raghuvir Yadav (Budhia), Shalini Vatsa (Natha's wife Dhania), Farrukh Jaffar (Natha's mother), Malaika Shenoy (TV journalist), VishalSharma (TV journalist), Nowaz (A newspaper journalist) and Naseeruddin Shah in a small role of a shrewd politician, Salim Kidwai, are so comfortable in their character's skin that the actor and character meld into one.
Raghubir puts up a seasoned performance and Jaffar, who played Rekha's mother in the old Umrao Jaan is amazing as the loud-mouthed, beedi-smoking mother.
Shenoy, Sharma and Nowaz are satirical representations of the pressures of Indian journalism.
Rizvi also brings in local Badwai villagers in walk-on roles and they are brilliant and authentic.
The Habib Tanvir legacy is represented by his daughter Nageen and her soulful rendition of the Chattisgarhi folk song Chola Maati Ka. For those interested in fusion music, the film offers two Indian Ocean numbers Des Mera and Zindagi Se Darte Ho to savour and applaud.
