'Peepli Live' is best first film at Durban film fest

Aug 3, 2010 IANS

New Delhi, Aug 3 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's forthcoming production 'Peepli Live' has already won its first recognition - the Best First Feature Film award at the 31st Durban International Film Festival in South Africa.

Directed by debutante Anusha Rizvi, the movie is a satire on farmer's suicides and the subsequent media and political response in the country.

''Peepli Live' has been awarded the Best First Feature Film at the Durban International Film Festival. Everyone is ecstatic about the win. The honour means a great deal, especially considering that Anusha Rizvi is a first time director,' said an official statement from Aamir Khan Productions.

The international jury at the gala that was held July 22-Aug 1 was all praise for the maiden attempt.

''Peepli Live' is an ambitious and well-realised film that deals with serious political issues in a witty and entertaining manner. It creates an enchanting world of colourful characters, images and music that engrosses viewers throughout,' the statement said.

The movie revolves around two impoverished farmers - Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) and Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) - who live in a village called Peepli. They are about to lose their land due to debts when an incompetent politician suggests they commit suicide to get government help. The news spreads and the media turns Natha into a celebrity.

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

Distributed by UTV Motion Pictures, the movie is slated to hit the screens Aug 13.

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).

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Peepli Live