Watch Peepli Live

Peepli Live is a 2010 Indian satirical comedy-drama film directed by Anusha Rizvi and produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. The film stars a cast of mostly non-professional actors, including Onkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav, and Shalini Vatsa. The story follows Natha (Onkar Das Manikpuri), a poor farmer who lives in the rural village of Peepli in India. Natha is unable to repay his debt, and his lender threatens to seize his family's land. In desperation, Natha's brother suggests that he commit suicide, as the government gives compensation in such cases. Natha's plight then becomes national news, and both the government and media descend on his village.

The film comments on a wide range of issues in modern India, from rural poverty to sensationalist media coverage of news events. The characters in the film represent a range of perspectives on these issues, from Natha's brother's desperation to the government's cynical calculation of Natha's death as a political opportunity.

The film's tone is satirical, with many of the characters exhibiting a dark humor in the face of their dire situations. Natha himself is a sympathetic protagonist, and the film does not shy away from depicting the poverty and desperation of his life.

At the heart of the film is a critique of the Indian government's inability to address the country's rural poverty. The government officials who descend on the village are shown to be cynical and self-serving, more interested in their own careers than in actually helping the villagers. The media is depicted as similarly exploitative, more interested in sensational headlines than in actually reporting on the situation.

Despite its dark subject matter, Peepli Live is a highly entertaining film. The performances by the largely non-professional cast are excellent, and the film's writing is sharp and incisive. The film's satirical tone keeps things from becoming too heavy or preachy, and its humor helps to highlight the absurdity of many of the situations the characters find themselves in.

Overall, Peepli Live is a must-watch film for anyone interested in Indian cinema or in issues of rural poverty and social justice. Its critique of the Indian government and media is scathing and highly relevant, and its satirical tone makes it a highly entertaining and memorable film.