Indian PM watches 'Peepli Live'

Manmohan Singh and his family had Aamir for company at the special screening.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday (August 29) evening watched Aamir Khan's production 'Peepli Live' at his 7 Race Course Road residence, an official said.

"Dr. Singh watched the film with interest," the official in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said after the special screening of the film.

'Peepli Live' is a political satire based on farmers' suicides and the superfluous approach by media on issue.

Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur, his family members and some close friends also watched the film at the special screening.

Aamir, the film's director Anusha Rizvi, distributor Ronnie Screwala and actors Raghuvir Yadav and Omkar Das Manikpuri were also present, the official said.

According to Congress sources, several party leaders had recommended the film to the prime minister.

Earlier, Aamir had held a screening of 'Peepli Live' for senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.

Aamir Khan Screens 'Peepli Live' For Raj Thackeray - Photos

Aamir Khan Screens 'Peepli Live' For Raj Thackeray

'Peepli Live' is India's official Oscar entry

Aamir Khan's production 'Peepli Live' has been chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars, an official at the star's office said.

Aamir was on the top of the world as the news came in. He said it's a "special honour" to represent the country.

"I'm really happy to hear that 'Peepli Live' has been chosen to represent India at the Oscars. It is always a special honour for me to represent India on a world platform and I would like to thank the Film Federation of India (FFI) for considering us worthy," Aamir said.

'Peepli Live' is former journalist Anusha Rizvi's debut film as director and does not boast of big stars.

"My congratulations to Anusha and the entire team," added Aamir.

This is the third time that a film with which Aamir is associated has been chosen to contend for the best foreign film award at the Oscars by the FFI.

The first was Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2001 film 'Lagaan', featuring Aamir in the lead, which was nominated among the best five in the best foreign film category. But it lost to 'No Man’s Land'.

In 2008, his production and debut directorial 'Taare Zameen Par' was chosen by the FFI as India’s official entry for the Academy Award, but it failed to make it to the top five.

'Peepli Live' which does not boast of any big stars, is a satirical take on farmer suicides in India and takes pot shots at the media, politicians and bureaucrats.

Protests against 'Peepli Live'

Aamir Khan's 'Peepli Live' might be a hit with both audiences and critics, but there's one section of people who're definitely not happy with the movie. And they're making their problem known. Farmers in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra have held protests against 'Peepli Live', which they feel mocks the issues facing farmers in the area, many of whom have committed suicide. The protestors even burned Aamir's effigy and have asked that the movie be banned because of the way it portrays farmer suicides.

They've said that the movie is an insult to farmers who have been victims of the system. They feel that by showing a farmer deciding to commit suicide just for the sake of compensation, the filmmakers have made light of a serious issue.

The Vidarbha farmers say they will continue to protest unless the movie is banned.

'Peepli Live' strikes gold at the box office

Aamir's movie took in Rs.70 million on its opening day

Aamir Khan's Midas touch continues with his production venture 'Peepli Live', a non commercial film about farmer suicides, doing well on its opening day, taking the actor pleasantly by surprise, and raking up about Rs.70 million and still counting.

"Initially, we had planned to open with 200 screens. But the reaction to the promos and trailers has been most encouraging. We are trying to react to the perceived demand to the film," said Aamir.

Journalist-turned-director Anusha Rizvi's direcotrial debut, 'Peepli Live' was made on a budget of approximately Rs.100 million (including marketing costs) and recovered its investment even before its release by selling its satellite rights for Rs.100 million and music rights for Rs.40 million.

"'Peepli Live' has opened extremely well. What is surprising is the reaction from single screens - it opened to almost 90 to 95 percent in single screens," said a source close to Aamir.

"As a non-star cast film with A-certificate, trade expected the film to do modest business. However, the film has done bigger business than small films by three times," added the source.

The cast of the film didn't have any big names except Naseeruddin Shah. Many actors are tribals from Bhadwai village in Madhya Pradesh, while other cast members are from late playwright Habib Tanvir's theatre troupe Naya Theatre, including the main lead Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha.

Other names in the cast are Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O. Sharma, Aamir Bashir, Sitaram Panchal and Yugal Kishore.

'Peepli Live' had the widest film release ever for a non star cast Hindi film. It hit 600 screens in India and 100 in overseas markets, except Britain Friday.

This is the fourth film from Aamir Khan Productions Ltd. after 'Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India' (2001), 'Taare Zameen Par' (2007) and 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na' (2008).

Box Office update: 'Peepli Live' is profitable even without theatrical revenue

Despite the absence of any known stars, the rural theme and a difficult language to comprehend [for a few circuits especially], PEEPLI [LIVE] embarked on a decent start in morning and noon shows at several screens, but showed a healthy increase with every show. In fact, a section of the industry was skeptical about its performance at single screens, but the single screens also showed an escalation gradually.

The brand, Aamir Khan, ensured ample shows at plexes throughout the country. The business showed a jump towards evening shows [90% to 100%; superb] and the night shows are packed at many places in advance/block bookings at prime locations. The opening weekend is expected to be extra-ordinary since Sunday is a national holiday [15 August].

The film is a profitable venture for its producers, even if one doesn't add the revenue generated from theatrical avenues. The cost of production is approx. Rs. 6 cr. [excl. P. & A.] and the makers have already recovered Rs. 8 cr. from Satellite Rights and Rs. 2 cr. from Music Rights. The revenue generated from India theatrical, entire Overseas and Home Video is only going to add to the profits.

Slow advance booking for 'Peepli [Live]'

Aamir Khan's production 'Peepli Live', which has created an unprecedented buzz despite being a non-commercial movie, has got a mixed start at the ticket windows in terms of advance bookings both in metros and small centres.

"The advance is nothing good considering that it has no star cast. We have sold only 20 percent of weekend tickets, but we are expecting a bumper weekend because of a trustworthy name like Aamir Khan," Amit Awasthi, senior manager (Programming and Operations) of Spice Cinemas, said.

A source from PVR cinemas said: "The advance is okay but nothing like an Aamir starrer. We are getting a lot of bulk bookings from corporate offices, but on small-scale basis it is yet to pick momentum. Apart from metros, the booking is okay at small centres like Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Indore and Ludhiana."

Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi, 'Peepli Live' puts the spotlight on the farmers suicides and the subsequent political and media reaction.

The cast of the film is a mixed bag - many actors are tribals from Bhadwai village in Madhya Pradesh, while other cast members are from late playwright Habib Tanvir's theatre troupe Naya Theatre, including the main lead Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha in 'Peepli Live'.

The film also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O. Sharma, Aamir Bashir, Sitaram Panchal and Yugal Kishore.

"The advance is good and is equivalent to any other commercial movie despite having no stars. We have sold 20 percent of the weekend tickets and are expecting an average occupancy of 90-95 percent over the weekend," said Yogesh Raizada, corporate head(Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas.

"Even in small centres like Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), we are having an advance of five to 10 percent and we are expecting 70-80 percent of occupancy over there too," he added.

Having bagged critical acclaim across the festival circuit abroad, 'Peepli Live' has already recovered its investment of Rs.100 million via satellite rights. It has also earned Rs.40 million through music rights.

Releasing over 700 screens worldwide Friday excluding Britain, it will hit 600 screens in India. The movie has been co-produced and distributed worldwide by UTV Motion Pictures.

"The response for 'Peepli Live' is quite good at my multiplex IP3 in Varanasi. We don't have advance bookings but tele bookings for allotted members and that is quite encouraging because of the buzz," said Sakshi Mehra, owner of IP3 and president of the Motion Pictures Association of Delhi-Uttar Pradesh.

Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan said: "The buzz is good for 'Peepli Live' and there is a good demand for the movie even in small centres. Aamir Khan is a trustworthy name and the promotions for the movie have reached even the two-tier and three-tier cities courtesy television and other activities," he added.

In smaller centres too theatre owners are hoping for good foot falls as Aamir's name is associated with the movie.

"We don't have advance bookings but we are hoping the upper class will come to watch the film. We are confused in terms of business for the movie as it is rural-based," Nawal Kishore Pandey, manager, Amar Cinema, Muzaffarpur, said.

Rajkumar Sow, manager, Anupama Cinema Hall, Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh, said: "There is a slow advance for the movie at our theatre. There have been floods and incessant rains so everyone is busy in that. But we are expecting a good initial because there is a a lot of news about this one."

Said Mangesh Shukla, supervisor, Big Cinemas Rajkala (single-screen), Wardha, Maharashtra: "The advance booking is normal, but there is a lot of awareness for the movie and we are sure it will draw a massive footfall - all in Aamir Khan's name."

'Peepli Live' recovers its cost even before release

The satellite rights for Aamir's movie already sold for Rs.100 million

Aamir Khan's 'Peepli Live', which will perhaps be the first non-commercial Hindi film to hit over 600 screens when it releases August 13, has already recovered its investment by selling its satellite rights for Rs. 100 million.

Made on a budget of approximately Rs.100 million (including marketing costs), journalist-turned director Anusha Rizvi's directorial debut is a satire on the farmers suicides and the subsequent political and media reaction.

It will hit 600 screens in India and 100 in overseas markets, except Britain.

"In Britain we have partnered with Artificial Eye (again first for a Hindi Film), a premium distribution chain that looks into art house main stream release and owns the largest art house exhibition chain called Curzon theatres. We will release 'Peepli Live' in Britain on September 24," said a source close to Aamir Khan Productions.

The cast of the film is a mixed bag - many actors are tribals from Bhadwai village in Madhya Pradesh, while other cast members are from the late playwright Habib Tanvir's theatre troupe Naya Theatre, including the main lead Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha in 'Peepli Live'.

The film also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O. Sharma, Aamir Bashir, Sitaram Panchal and Yugal Kishore.

This is the fourth film from Aamir Khan Productions Ltd. after 'Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India' (2001), 'Taare Zameen Par'(2007) and 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na'(2008).

If Aamir's earlier three commercial films were blocbusters, 'Peepli Live' has earned a reputation for itself in the global film circuit. The movie recently won the Best First Feature Film award at the 31st Durban International Film Festival in South Africa.

'Peepli Live' also competed in the Sundance Film Festival, the first film from India to do so. The movie was picked up by specialty German distribution company, Rapid Eye Movies, for a special screening at the Berlin International Film Festival. It recently had its Melbourne premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival MIFF 2010.

The film has also put the spotlight on over 1,000 villages across India that are called Peepli.

MOVIE REVIEW: PEEPLI [Live]

When Aamir Khan produces a film, or is associated with any film in the capacity of an actor, be prepared for the unpredictable. Films like TAARE ZAMEEN PAR and 3 IDIOTS took pot shots at the education system in India and PEEPLI [LIVE], directed by Anusha Rizvi, is a tongue-in-cheek satire on the farmers' suicides and the role of vote-hungry politicians and the over-enthusiastic, TRP-seeking desperate electronic media jostling for eyeballs.

Come to think of it, the concept [farmers' suicides] would instinctively translate into a serious, thought-provoking film. But PEEPLI [LIVE] takes a grim and solemn issue, turns it into a satire, garnishes it with populist sentiment and makes a far greater impact than a mere documentary, had it tackled the burning issue. In fact, like all Aamir Khan films, PEEPLI [LIVE] marries realism with a winning box-office formula most brilliantly.

A sad fact of our society is that bad news attracts instant attention. In PEEPLI [LIVE], an impoverished man offers to commit suicide so that his family can benefit from a government grant - a dark subject matter which is dealt with in a delightfully humorous manner. In fact, it's a terrific satire about a troubled India, the shining India, the industrialised India that's rarely depicted on the Hindi screen.

PEEPLI [LIVE] focuses on the poorest of the poor in India and it not only highlights the plight of a farmer in a tiny corner of a giant country, but also throws light on the varied people who exploit the situation to their advantage, right from the politicians to the bureaucrats to the television reporters to the local people. In fact, PEEPLI [LIVE] makes a scathing attack on the functioning of media in India and how media persons, depicted as vultures, generally stoop to the lowest levels to increase the ratings of their television channel/show.

The best part is that at no point does the film gets preachy or starts offering solutions to the grave issue. It's a mere tool that the makers have used to discuss bureaucracy, the rural and urban divide and lack of concern of the administration.

Final word? This tragi-comedy, a brilliant satire, is not to be missed.

Natha [Omkar Das Manikpuri], a poor farmer from Peepli village in the heart of rural India, is about to lose his plot of land due to an unpaid government loan. A quick fix to the problem is the government's program that aids the families of indebted farmers who have committed suicide. As a means of survival, Natha chooses to die. His brother [Raghubur Yadav] is happy to push him towards this unique honour.

Local elections are around the corner and what might've been another unnoticed event turns into a cause célèbre, with everyone wanting a piece of the action. Political bigwigs, high-ranking bureaucrats, local henchmen and the ever-zealous media descend upon sleepy Peepli to stake their claim. Natha's mother [Farrukh Jaffer] screams at his wife [Shalini Vatsa], while his young son urges papa to go through with the suicide so he can use the money to become a policeman.

One TV journalist, in a desperate search for a new angle, tries to examine Natha's faeces to determine his emotional state. Nobody seems to care how Natha really feels.

PEEPLI [LIVE] tells the story of today: Rural society, the games politicians play, the bureaucracy and the manipulative electronic media. It's a well penned and well executed film that deals with a serious issue in a witty and entertaining manner. Although very real, it creates a world full of vivid characters and incidents and keeps the viewer engrossed throughout.

First-time director Anusha Rizvi handles the subject material like a veteran. Her script is tight and witty and her handling of a difficult subject deserves kudos. What really sets the film apart is that it is unlike a typical Bollywood film. In fact, you can't draw parallels with any film, past or present. And that's what goes in favour of this film, since virgin subjects handled with utmost sensitivity and maturity is the order of the day. Even the finale is most appropriate and absolutely befitting the content of the film. In a nutshell, Anusha scores a sixer in her debut.

The music, composed by multiple artists, is Indian to the core and borrows heavily from folk music. The hugely popular - 'Mehangayee Daayan' - is the pick of the lot, without doubt. Cinematography is appropriate. Dialogue, laced with expletives, are truly fantastic and most importantly, real.

Manikpuri is brilliant as Natha. Raghubir Yadav shines as the opportunist brother. Malaika Shenoy [as the television reporter] is exceptional. Shalini Vatsa [as Natha's wife] is outstanding. Ditto for Farrukh Jaffer [Natha's bed-ridden mother]. In fact, the constant tu-tu-main-main between the saas-bahu is thoroughly enjoyable. Nawazuddin Siddiqui [as Rakesh, the local journalist] is natural. Vishal Sharma [as Kumar Deepak, the rival journalist] is top notch. Naseeruddin Shah is first-rate as the conniving, shrewd politician. The remaining cast - there're lots of actors in the film - pitch in believable performances.

On the whole, PEEPLI [LIVE] is sure to ride initially on the strength and credibility of its iconic actor/producer Aamir Khan and once that is achieved, the powerful content is sure to speak for itself. PEEPLI [LIVE] is a film that would not only appeal to Indians, but is sure to reach out to audiences beyond India. Simply brilliant!

RATING: 4.5/5