Review of Peepli Live (2010) by Meghal P — 22 Aug 2010

A hard hitting satire on Indian political system, bureaucracy and media. It would be difficult to classify this movie as a pure comedy. Although poking fun at the problems of village farmers, it has its genuine touching and tragic moments. The story revolves around a farmer, who is unable to pay his debt and is about to lose his land to the banks. A local politician jokingly advises him to commit suicide as government pays money to the family of farmers who commit suicide. The frenzy that follows forms the crux of the movie.

The absence of any star power works strongly in favour of movie. The director is able to capture the nuances of daily life in rural India.