Of realities and entertainment-- PEEPLI live( a review)

"So extraordinary is the development in India that it's easy to overlook the fragility and unevenness in the economic boom.As you leave Gurgaon and drive down the Jaipur Highway, it is like heading back in time to an older, slower, pre-modern world.Within twenty minutes of leaving the swanky malls and headquarters of Microsoft and Google Asia, cars and trucks are begining to give way to camel and bullock carts. Suits and denims to dusty cotton dhotis and turbans.This is very different India indeed, places suspended between modernity and tradition." William Dalyrmple in his book 'Nine Lives'.

The inequality between haves and have-nots in the society has grown.But Peepli live is not only about the inequality.It is a film which shows the uncomfortable truths which we try to avoid knowingly or unknowningly. It hits hard on the face. You laugh throughout the film but come out thinking and that is where the film scores.Coming out of multiplex, I watched the faces of those coming out,thinking about why this movie hit me hard? Wasn't it supposed to entertain us? We don't come to watch this kind of cinema. We want to relax and have fun. The brooding faces tell the impact of movie.Few of them might not have liked the movie because they don't want to know that reality really bites and farmers do suicide.

It's not only a satire on media as hyped but satire on the every pillar of democracy.It has every type of characters. From elitist to sychophant bureaucrat.From domineering to castist local politician.From a sensation monger to a conscientous journlist.From a poor farmer who dies while digging soil to sell to a CEO of a news network who wants only eyeballs and TRP.

Cliched with all the negatives everyone know, the movie sores high due to its black humor and a definite lack of emotional atyachar. The movie never intends you to teach but to make you think.

Movie: Burdened with the guilt of losing the land due to loan, a naive farmer,Natha is manipulated by his elder brother Budhiya who looks suicide as only option,though reluctantly. Media makes a circus out of it and in all the chaos Natha's feelings are totally ignored and politics takes centrestage.

Direction : Bollywood is somewhat devoid of good and creative female directors (though Farah Khan has carved her own kind of cinema but... ). So Anusha Rizvi is like a breath of fresh air.I must admit I never felt that I am watching a movie made by a debutante director. I'll keep few of my own apprehensions for her next movie though.She was a journalist herself so the cynicism and satire which was centric to her story came from her forte. It will be intersting to watch her next movie.

Performance :Movie derives most of its authencity from its terrific casting. Most of the casts are from Habib Tanvir's Naya Theater.Omkar Das Manikpuri as endearing Natha is marvellous. He depicts his naivete and sufferings with an amazing ease. Raghuveer Yadav is great as always.Farrokh zafar as Amma and Shalini Vats as Dhaniya are superb. Apart from these the characters of Rakesh, the local journo with a consience, Kumar Deepak the hindi news journo and Nandita Mallick ruthless english news journo make their presence felt with their strong character portrayal.

Music: Great background score by Indian ocean and french composer Mathias Duplessy. Its amalgamtes into the soul of movie. Folk song ' Mehangai Dayan' sung by Raghuveer Yadav(The song wasn't recorded in studio. Raghuveer yadav sang it live directly for the movie) is already popular.

Editing: Crisp editing keeps the movie taut throughout.

Cinematography: Super photography. I liked the scene where the camera trembles and goes from the muddy streets to the billboard which says More luxury More space depicting the inequity in indian society. It covers the problem of iniquity with a stroke of camera work.


Verdict:: A must watch movie. Realistic cinema. Go and watch it even if it doesn't entertain you like a masala film, even if it makes you face the harsh realities.