Peepli [Live]

Anusha Rizvi has a story to tell and she does it all too un-preachily. No sermons. No grandstands. Her narrative, taking care of every nuance, puts the point right across, and manages to move you. She takes a light- hearted approach to a serious issue. The satire, directed at the media and the government, tends to go tad bit overboard, but is hard-hitting and convincing, for most part. Laudable performances by theatre artists Omkar Das Manikpuri as Natha and Raghubir Yadav as Budhia, (Natha's elder brother). A first timer in the Hindi film industry, Omkar Das is sure to take you by surprise. You may not take to him instantly but his childlike vulnerability and subtle ways, win you over, as the story progresses. Be it his tripping in the gobar, or his confiding in Budhia that he doesn't want to suicide, or the tenderness with which he pats the goat, even as he lies cowering from his own set of woes. (Titbit - Apparently, Rizvi spotted Omkar Das at a play in Bhopal. Until then, Amir was suppose to play Natha) Raghubir Yadav is born to act. He emotes flawlessly. One such scene is where he is arguing with Natha over who should suicide. Within a second, he solemnly vows to suicide, all teary-eyed, in the next, he takes a 'relieved' drag off his beedi, having managed to convince innocent Natha to sacrifice his life ;) From the grouchy (yet entertaining) amma (Farookh Zafar), to Natha's nagging wife Dhaniya (Shalini Vatsa); from the B-grade Hindi news channel correspondent Deepak, to the stoic English news channel reporter Nandita (Malaika Shenoy), it's a perfect cast all the way. The film gets drab and predictable in parts but manages to leave an impact, nevertheless!

(2/2)Actors have done their job in the most remarkable way.Raghuveer Yadav can win an Oscar for that but alas Academy is Bollywood- blind.Omkar Das is very natural.The actor playing reporter Deepak is a revelation.Aamir could have done a cameo.

(2/2)The story is a wonderful satire.Rizvi being a retired-reporter knew the nuts and bolts of the dirty business.The subplot of Hori Mehto remind us of Do Bheega Zamin.

(1/2)Direction of Rizvi collapsed in the last half hour of the movie.The subplot was wasted and climax was done in a hurry.

(2/2)The music/score is this year's best.Indian Ocean are superb.Chola Mati ke Raam,Mehngai Daayan,Desh Mera,Aadmi are all well crafted.

(2/2)Yes,the movie do have a X-FACTOR.Well paced and presented in the current inflation scenario.

When Mr. Perfectionist steps in to overlook the proceedings the chances of the product going wrong are minimal. He of course brings in his experience and cinematic sensibilities on board to the project. "Peepli Live" indeed shapes up to a good product and cleverly positioned for garnering accolades at the Film Festivals and more importantly the Oscars statuettes which has been eluding Aamir Khan for nearly a decade now.

"Peepli Live" pays tribute to the doyens of parallel Indian cinema (Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Ritwick Ghatak). The look and feel reminds you of the arty products the audience has witnessed in the era of 70's & 80's ("Pather Panchali", "Ankur", "Manthan", "Disha" etc). Satires are still a road less travelled for Indian cinema and "Peepli Live" blends the ingredient to jibe at Laxman's world around us. Having said that the protagonist is nothing short of the pocket cartoon itself offering a rural slice of life which "India Shining" repeatedly opts to play ostrich hoping the problem would simply go away and never return. Doesn't that actually sound like a definition of suicide itself?

A known face would have come with its baggage and potentially worked against for the movie. A fresh face works wonderfully for "Peepli Live". Omkar Das Manikpuri breathes life into "Nut Tha". His look, costumes, personality or his gait, everything contributes to the authentic feel.

Raghuvir Yadav needs no introduction. He is accomplished performer in his own right.

Naseeruddin Shah has a very small screen time but as usual delivers.

Performances of every actor in the movie deserves a special mention.

The writing on the wall is clear, special attention is given to every aspect of "Peepli Live". Characterisation, location, costumes, language or folk songs - everything add up to linger in our heads for a while.

Finally it is my opinion that the movie is a clever amalgamation of "Main Azaad Hoon" and "Rann" doused with cinematic sensibilities of parallel cinema.

I'm a native American and saw this movie in a theater with maybe 30 Indians (sorry, I'm old enough to find multiple ironies in that sentence). Anyway, I went into this movie with no expectations. Though I've seen a number of Indian movies over the last few years, I knew nothing of this author or director. I laughed out loud more than I have for any Hollywood movie this year. My cohorts found it even funnier than I, but I guarantee you that you don't need to know that much about Indian politics or media to get most of this satire.

It starts with a farmer deciding to commit suicide to get his family the $2000 that may save his farm from foreclosure. From there, the media and government turn it into a circus, stepping all over themselves in their self-serving ways.

It suffers only in minor ways from a few slow spots and odd shifts in tone, but these are worth sitting through. It's currently showing here only at a suburban Atlanta theater that shows a combination of H-wood and B-wood. This should have been picked up by some American distributer when it showed at Sundance. Hopefully, enough people will see it and generate the buzz to get it to a wider audience.

Peepli (Live) is a movie which had enormous expectancy levels from the trailers and the very fact that it was produced by THE "Aamir Khan Productions" which had gave birth to many enchanting & consummate cinematic experiences on celluloid... It has absolutely educed even more than the hype it produced, with Anusha Rizvi, a débutante, furnishing an outstanding satire on the backdrop of Indian farmer's suicides...

Not getting into the plot, as most of them know it already... What makes this movie into an astounding cinematic experience, is its utmost natural narration and simplicity.. Whether it be the characters, situations, dialogs... all were just near to utmost realistic...! Humour element used throughout the movie was smart as a whip... Loved the movie for another factor, that it was not preachy at all... Ending which was terrifically weaved out, in some ways, reminds me of one of the greatest satires in Malayalam "Panchavadi Paalam"

Anusha Rizvi, being a débutante, doesn't feel like one as the handling of the subject was just awe inspiring... Music and BG were top class... Camera work was good...The screenplay and dialogs were just tight and perfect... Among the performances, the whole cast were literally living their characters in this movie which makes it even more special!

One the whole, one should give a whole hearted standing ovation to Anusha Rizvi and Aamir Khan for making this film a reality,which has an amazing potential to be India's iconic movie in the International circuit!