Review of film, Peepli Live

Peepli Live
Sundance Film Festival
Yarrow Hotel Theatre
Park City, Utah
January 29, 2010

Plot Summary On the eve of national elections in the Indian village of Peepli (a fictional village), two poor farmers, Natha (Onkar Das) and Budhia (Raghuvir Yadav), face losing their land over an unpaid government loan. Desperate, they seek help from an apathetic local politician, who suggests they commit suicide to benefit from a government program that aids the families of indebted deceased farmers. When a journalist, Rakesh (Nowaz) overhears Budhia urge Natha to "do what needs to be done" for the sake of their families, a media frenzy ignites around whether or not Natha will commit suicide. The media attention then ignites a frenzy of political attention.

Written and directed by first timer, Anusha Rizvi and produced by AK Productions.

The film is poignant when you consider the plight of the real farmers that are committing suicide because they are losing land that has been in their families for countless generations as well as the sole means of supporting their families. When you see what Rakesh sees in the village of Peepli. When you realize, as he does, that Natha and Budhia are not the only farmers suffering this problem in Peepli, you cannot help but feel a sense of helplessness to know how to effect a change for them. How many of us even think about the person who plants, nurtures and harvest the food we consume with such abandon on a daily basis?

However, Anusha has done a brilliant job of making us laugh through our helplessness. The idiocy of the responses given to Natha as a possible solution, thrown out in an offhand way, almost in jest. The process of the brothers to decide which of them should do the deed. The frantic, obnoxious and wholly obtrusive ways of the media in taking what is a small tragedy and turning it into a national circus. The desperate attempts by politicians, all the way to the top of the political food chain, to somehow either control or benefit from the outcome. These are made comical with the magical musings of Anusha's script and direction. And yet underlying the comedy is still that sense of “Should I really be laughing at this? This is tragic.” And still we laugh.

I had a chance to speak to Anusha Rizvi and the Casting Director, Mahmood Farooqui after the viewing. We were the last people waiting for a ride at the front of the theatre. Anusha is bright and engaging. I enjoyed talking about her film. Sadly, due to the lateness of the hour, I did not think to ask her what is next for her. I will look forward eagerly to her next film. Kudos to Aamir Khan for finding this talent and bringing her to our attention. And kudos to Anusha and Mahmood for bringing to our attention the talents of so many unknown talented actors. Onkar Das and many of the other cast members are highly trained and skilled theatre actors, according to Anusha. They perform classics of Indian literature, as well as Shakespeare. I would very much like to see their performance someday. And I must say their skills translated very well to the big screen.