Peepli Live - Movie Review

Indians love satires and spoofs. Attend any ‘kavi sammelan’ in any college fest (which are full of satires and spoofing) and a normal answer will be ‘I DID ENJOYED IT’. And when you see such things of quality on 70mm screens, you will definitely ENJOY it. This does the trick for Peepli [Live]. Rating – 3/5

Story –
Script is brilliantly written by Anusha Rizvi (she is also the director). It is a story where the younger brother in the family agrees to COMMIT (suicide that is) to get the benefits of various ‘Gandhi-named-ones’ Govt. schemes. What follows is a heavy satirical entertainment dose of [Live] TV reporting and drama. We have already seen this many times performed by likes of Raju Srivastava and Sunil Pal. So, what’s new? The most admiring part of the script are the connecting dots i.e. the connection between a serious issue (like farmer suicide), daily drama (Indian politics where the ruler & the loser disagrees by default) and the [Live] TV news circus (press that remote now if you don’t trust me).

Jaane Bhi Do Yaroon, a cult ‘black comedy’ too took a dig (subject was corruption). It was hard hitting in message but carried subtleness in its dialogues. It had comedy, most of which was circumstantial in substance. Peepli [Live] on contrary is attacking and punching. Sometimes mellowing down a bit gets the better of intensifying things. Consequently, Peepli [Live] fails to reach that zone of cult and remains ‘just’ a good satire.

Cast -
Casting is perfect. Don’t think it could be better. Omkar Das Manikpuri (Natha) is the best casting of a character for me in 2010. When your face speaks your emotions, you don’t need lines. He manages that with perfection. Chances are Priyadarshan may just pick him and put him into his basket of regulars (current members – everybody knows them by now). Raghubir Yadav (Budhia) is permanent class. In addition to his acting, his voiced Mehngai Dayan is excellent. Rest of the casting is also good. No regrets that Aamir didn’t act in this one.

Music -
The music is earthly, lovable and welcomingly fresh. It’s not typical bollywood (the Pritam inspired ones or those solo singles by Mohit Chauhan, Atif, Kailash Kher, etc). A major hit which has helped this small budget movie to gain huge momentum in publicity is Mehngai Dayan (‘Inflation, the Bitch’). It sounds ‘bhajan’ style and captures your attention from its lyrics (which are so relevant in current India). And do listen to ‘Desh Mera’ by Indian Ocean (one of the few recognized Indian bands). Try to listen to the original one, sung with Late band member Asheem Chakravarty (its more indepth).

Hey ek minute,
An observation made (CID style). Aamir first venture as producer (MINUS Aamir Khan, the actor) was Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. A low budget movie which gained publicity from a song ‘Pappu Can’t Dance Saala’. It turned to be a hit at box office. Quite fascinatingly, Peepli Live too has gained publicity from the song ‘Mehngai Dayan’. Now you know why Salmaan Khan says ‘Aamir has got a Midas touch’.

Speaking Pictures's verdict – DO watch for excellent script, brilliant performances and different genre of music.

ps: Just recalling the ‘best black comedy of bollywood’ ever on this Independence Day. The ending lines from the movie “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron” -

“honge kaamyaab,
honge kaamyaab ,
hum honge kaamyaab ek din,
ho ho mann main hai vishwas,
poora hai vishwas,
hum honge kaamyaab ek din”

(also available at Desimartini.com)