Peepli Live
Peepli Live is a 2010 Indian satirical comedy film that explores the topic of farmer suicides and the subsequent media and political response. It is written and directed by Anusha Rizvi in her directorial debut, and produced by Aamir Khan Productions. The film stars Naya Theatre company member Omkar Das Manikpuri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa and Malaika Shenoy along with a number of newcomers. Peepli Live, distributed by UTV Motion Pictures, was released onAugust 2010.
Natha Das ManikPuri Omkar Das Manikpuri, better known as Natha, is a poor farmer from the village of Peepli in Mukhya Pradesh, who struggles to farm enough money for his family made up of his elder brother, Budhia Das Manikpuri Raghubir Yadav, his wife, Dhaniya Shalini Vatsa and his ailing mother, Amma Farookh Zafar, who spends most of her time lying down and screaming at Natha and Dhaniya. Natha and Budhia often pretend to go out farming when actually they save up whatever money they have to buy alcohol. This has left the whole family famished and now the banks are demanding repayment of loans or else the family will be stripped off their land and house. In the meantime, the Mukhya Pradesh Government have called a byelection due to continuous criticism of their blind eye towards the desperate poverty that surrounds Indias largest state. The opposition Apna Dal Party believe they have a chance to form the government in this election as the people have lost faith in the longserving Sammaan Party and its Chief Minister, Ram Babu Yadav Jugal Kishore who, along with Federal Agriculture Minister, Saleem Kidwai Naseeruddin Shah, believes in the industrialisation of rural areas.To save his land and to save his family from becoming homeless, Natha, encouraged by his brother, decides to commit suicide after he attends a session with the rural headmen for help and they suggest him that committing suicide is a good way to get money waived off, after which his family will receive heavy compensation for his death. While Natha and his brother are discussing the same at a local tea stall, this news gets reported by Rakesh, a local reporter from Peepli. This report then gets picked up and highlighted by the national English news channels and reaches the Chief Minister. The media starts surrounding Peepli sensing the possibility of a sensational suicide story. One ITVN journalist particularly keen on filming the event of Nathas death is Daytime Presenter, Nandita Malik Malaika Shen
Source: Wikipedia
