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Starring:-
Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghubir Yadav, Nawazuddin
Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Malaika Shenoy,
Naseeruddin Shah
Written & Directed by -
Anusha Rizvi
Peepli [Live] is an experimental film yet a thought
provoking satire produced by Aamir Khan - that depicts
the story of thousands of debt ridden poor Indian
farmers who commit suicide as they are not thick skinned
as other wily businessmen or the politicians.
The question on everyone’s lips - “Will he or Won’t he?”
As the mania escalates what will be the fate of Farmer
Natha; nobody seems to care how he really feels?
Debutante director Anusha
Rizvi’s Peepli Live illustrates the stark reality about
state of already burdened farmers in India who easily fall
in the debt trap. The poor farmer cannot face disgrace
unlike the other crafty breed of people, from debt, the
consequent reactions of the media, and the vote-thirsty
politicians.
The electronic and print media are skillfully portrayed
as helping hands, who yet exploit the suicide issue only
for their own advantage, for the simple reason - to
increase their channel’s viewership.
Specifically credit ought to be given to the entire crew
of Peepli [Live] who have done a brilliant job. Omkar
Das Manikpuri as the simpleton Natha, Naseeruddin Shah
as the seasoned Minister, Raghubir Yadav as Natha’s
brother, Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the reporter, and
Malaika Shenoy as the Barkha Dutt type TV journalist
have performed brilliantly (or we can say - very
naturally).
Cast:
Natha - Omkar Das Manikpuri
Budhia - Raghubir Yadav
Rakesh - Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Dhaniya - Shalini Vatsa
Amma - Farrukh Jaffer
Nandita Malik - Malaika Shenoy
Kumar Deepak - Vishal O. Sharma
Saleem Kidwai (Agriculture Minister) - Naseeruddin Shah
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Natha 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 very same government’s
program that aids the families of indebted farmers who
have committed suicide. As a means of survival Farmer
Natha can choose to die!!!
Natha’s brother is happy to
push him towards this unique ‘honor’ but Natha is
reluctant. Local elections are around the corner and what
might’ve been another unnoticed event turns into a ‘cause
celebré’ 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.
Peepli is a nice offbeat film which has fine direction,
slick editing which keeps you interested in the
proceedings. A film definitely worth a watch.
Unilke the other mainstream Bollywood flicks, this one has
no item number, yet it has a catchy – Mehengai Maar Gayi
song which is sung actually by the locals of Badwai
Village situated in Madhya Pradesh in the heart of India.
- PAW
Credits & Crew:
Written & Directed by Anusha Rizvi
Produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao
Co-Producer - Ronnie Screwala
Associate Producers - Zarina Mehta, Deven Khote, Siddharth
Kapur
Co-Director & Casting Director - Mahmood Farooqui
Director of Photography - Shanker Raman
Editor - Hemanti Sarkar
Sound Designer - Hari Kumar Pillai
Sound Mixing Engineer - Anup Dev
Production Designer - Suman Roy Mahapatra
Costume Designer - Maxima Basu
Make-up - Vikram Gaikwad
Publicity Designer - Sukanya Ghosh
Background Music Composer - Mathias Duplessy
Song Composers - ‘Des Mera’ by Indian Ocean, Chola Mati Ke’
by Nageen Tanvir (Original Gond Tribal tune of Mandala
Dist.M.P.), ‘Sakhi Saiyyan’ - Bhadwai Village Artistes
Lyrics- Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire, Gangaram Sakhet,
Bhadwai Village Artistes
Line Producer - Alan McAlex
Executive Producer - B. Shrinivas Rao
Charted Accountants - Bimal Parekh & Co.
PHOTOGRAPHS - Lalit Nene |
