Peepli live - Hindi film

Budhiya and his brother Nattu come home from bank and Nattu’s wife repeatedly asks why were they called to the bank. 

They were called because they have lost their land and hence their livelihoods. Because they could not repay their loans. And their land would be auctioned off.

Nattu’s wife screams, shouts and scolds them in very colourful language at this terrible news. Their mother who is lying on charpai starts wailing. 

The brothers visit local politician seeking his assistance to save their land. He mocks them and ridicules them. Then one of the his sidekicks mockingly says  “in Andhrapradesh, if a farmer kills himself, his family gets one lakh rupee compensation. Why don’t you kill yourself?”

Brothers come home cursing the politician and his chamchas. But coincidentally, they hear news of various suicides all along the way. And an idea is being planted in their minds.

Budhiya decides that he will kill himself to save the family.  From the compensation money, they can reclaim their land.

Innocent Nattu declares that he will commit khudkhushi instead because Budhiya has a family to take care of unlike himself. So it gets agreed upon. 

The news spreads in the village and surrounding areas. A local journalist hears the story and writes it - a story of desperation of farmers. 

This story catches the eye of a TV anchor. He comes to the village with his paraphernalia and crew.  He  is followed by many more TV channels. 

They all come with the excited to catch and broadcast  a live suicide. A tamasha for people to watch and enjoy.

Opposition leaders and central government are excited by these events too “What is the government doing? It is the failure of state government. They have deceived the farmers. The CM should resign immediately “. 

Thus begins the drama of suicide  in Peepli. A live drama played out by greedy news anchors, corrupt politicians and befuddled villagers. 

Who is playing such fatal games with the lives  of budhiya and nattu? Politicians, banks, rain or the God himself? 

This 2010 movie from Amirkhan is beautifully crafted and too realistic.