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Peepli Live

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Peepli Live

Released Aug 13, 2010

1h 45m

Comedy

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86%

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28 Reviews

72%

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2,500+ Ratings

On the verge of losing his family's farm, Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) arrives at a unique solution to his financial predicament: suicide. After all, the Indian government supplies hefty payouts to the families of farmers who kill themselves. But, when a broadcast journalist hears of Natha's plan, the poor man is thrust into the center of a media circus. While a nation of viewers watches what Natha will do with bated breath, local politicians fear a backlash from the controversy.

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

First-time director Anusha Rizvi's disturbing satire on the state of India today Peepli Live cuts deep, letting it bleed.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 10, 2019

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Anil Sinanan

Time Out

A largely unknown confident cast, rousing folk music and Rizvi's understated direction result in a fresh, credible comic gem.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 24, 2017

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Thousands of poor farmers kill themselves every year in India and it was audacious of writer-director Anusha Rizvi to make a comedy out of the fact with her first film.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 29, 2010

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Nikhat Kazmi

The Times of India

Big question: How smart can Indian cinema get? Exhilarating answer: Very smart.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 28, 2020

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Sr. Rose Pacatte

National Catholic Reporter

Globalization does not have to be inhumane.

Aug 11, 2017

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John Esther

UR Chicago Magazine

A better writer than director, the strength of Rizvi's 'Peepli Live' is the film's unsentimental portrayal of the poor

Jan 4, 2011

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Audience Member

Satire which forms the heart of the story is childish and annoying at times. Premise which could have melted stones went haywire.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

The movie is a satirical take on the happenings of rural India, and in this case, it is farmers suicide, and very creatively shows how the urban set up, machineries of government aren't interested to solve the problem at all, instead just meddles in showmanship as elections are coming.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

A raw expression of poor farmers of India. Heart touching!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Thoroughly loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Stark reality of the current situation of Indian farmers hailing from the remotest regions possible. A dire situation of living a mere life constituted of meal 2 times a day and a glass of alcohol in the evening.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The idea of farmers commiting suicide so their families get money from the government was a good starting concept....however, Natha seems too dumb to think things through properly. I don't remember him even weighing up the options. And the election background is a bit pointless but accounts for the media circus.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Anusha Rizvi

Director

Omkar Das Manikpuri

Nathadas Manikpuri

Raghuvir Yadav

Budhia Manikpuri

Malaika Shenoy

Nandita Malik

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Rakesh

Shalini Vatsa

Dhaniya N. Manikpuri

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Synopsis

On the verge of losing his family's farm, Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) arrives at a unique solution to his financial predicament: suicide. After all, the Indian government supplies hefty payouts to the families of farmers who kill themselves. But, when a broadcast journalist hears of Natha's plan, the poor man is thrust into the center of a media circus. While a nation of viewers watches what Natha will do with bated breath, local politicians fear a backlash from the controversy.

Director: Anusha Rizvi
Screenwriter: Anusha Rizvi
Distributor: UTV Motion Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: Hindi
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 13, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 9, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $754.8K
Runtime: 1h 45m