‘Peepli Live’ makes it to the Oscars!

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: Well, Aamir Khan has done it again. ‘Peepli Live’ has been selected as India’s official entry at the 83rd Academy Awards to be held in US next year in 2011. Speaking to a news daily Supran Sen, secretary general of the Film Federation of India said, “Peepli Live has been selected as India`s official entry for the Oscars out of 27 films.” The film produced and promoted by Aamir Khan has gone on to become India’s calling card from world’s most prestigious film awards – the Oscars! Peepli Live has been short listed in the Best Foreign Film category. Holding the megaphone for the first time, the director of ‘Peepli Live’ Anusha Rizvi is no less than a revelation for the evolving Indian cinema. The movie is satirical take on farmer suicides in India and how media and politicians tackle the issue. Reportedly, the film even earned appreciation from the Prime Minister of India as it was screened for him and his family members and some close friends. This is third time lucky for Aamir Khan Production as the actor`s previous films ‘Lagaan’ (2001) and ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (2007) were also selected to represent India at the Academy awards. ‘Laagan’, which saw Aamir playing a farmer in British Raj, was shortlisted in a category of five but lost to Bosnian war film ‘No Man`s Land’. The story of ‘Peepli Live’ follows two poor farmers who face losing their land over an unpaid debt after poor monsoon rains. A local politician suggests they commit suicide so their families get compensation. A journalist overhears one of the farmers apparently urging the other to end his own life, triggering a media frenzy about whether he will go through with it, lampooning India`s sensationalist television news channels. The film is a black comedy and in fact a brave attempt to expose India’s underbelly. (With PTI Inputs)