Review: 'Peepli Live' is a satirical take on serious issues

Peepli Live
Cast: Omkar Das, Raghuvir Yadav, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffar, Malaika Shenoy, Vishal Sharma, Nowaz, Sitaram Panchal, Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Bashir, Dan Husain
Director: Anusha Rizvi, Mahmood Farooqui (co-director)
Rating: ***1/2

Aamir Khan’s Peepli Live, written and directed by debutante Anusha Rizvi, is the story of two farmer-brothers, Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) and Budhia (Raghubir Yadav), who live in Peepli village and are about to lose their plot of land due to non-repayment of a loan. They then decide that Natha should commit suicide to avail financial help under a government scheme that entitles the family of every farmer who commits suicide to Rs1 lakh as compensation.

The media gets wind of this plan and hypes it up, embarrassing the ruling party and giving the opposition a chance to take potshots at the government. To top it all, elections are just around the corner. Natha’s impending suicide becomes the fountainhead of a circus involving TV channels, politicians, bureaucrats, local leaders and even the village’s inhabitants. Although the topic chosen by Rizvi is grim and depressing, she has very intelligently woven a satirical drama around it, adding so much humour that it entertains the viewer.

The jokes will be enjoyed more by the city-based multiplex audience, which anyway is the target audience of the movie. Four-letter words are liberally used by the characters in the film. The ending turns more philosophical as Rizvi tries to underline the urban-rural divide.

A pat on the back for casting director Mahmood Farooqui, who is also the co-director, and Anusha Rizvi’s husband. Omkar Das Manikpuri belies the fact that this is his first film. He looks and plays the character of Natha to perfection. Raghubir Yadav is a fine actor and Malaika Shenoy is superb as the TV hostess and reporter. Vishal Sharma, as TV reporter Kumar Deepak, is extraordinary. Farukh Jaffer as amma is one of the highlights of the film. Shalini Vatsa plays her role as Natha’s wife very effectively. Nawazuddin Siddiqui makes a mark as Rakesh. Naseeruddin Shah is lovely as usual. Anusha Rizvi’s debut as a director is very promising and her handling of a depressing subject is praiseworthy.

There was scope for emotions, but Rizvi has avoided that route. The music goes very well with the mood of the film - ‘Sakhi saiyyan’, ‘Des mera’ and ‘Chola maati ke’ are all very well composed and penned. Shanker Raman’s camerawork, Hemanti Sarkar’s editing and Suman Roy Mahapatra’s sets deserve mention. On the whole, Peepli Live will give the industry a new director, and many new actors and technicians.