The UK welcomes PEEPLI [LIVE]

It is time for nervous butterflies to flutter in superstar Aamir Khan's tummy once again this month as he continues to promote the release of 'Peepli Live' in UK theatres this Friday (September 24). Despite the normal concern generated by any film release, it should be stated that 'Peepli Live', directed by journalist and filmmaker Anusha Rizvi, has already been applauded in numerous film festivals across the world (Sundance - USA, Berlin and Melbourne) and has been selected as India's official entry to the Oscars.

The film was previously released in India during Ramadaan and produced rave reviews from the Indian media and viewers, who were seduced by Rizvi's satiric script and a cast mainly made up of unknown actors in the world of Indian films. The unique formula behind the film's success seems to come from a combination of several elements ranging from an unusual but captivating script and a sound marketing strategy to the fact that Rizvi is herself a member of the media (which the screenplay focuses on) and of course that the film is associated with Aamir Khan, who the audience invariably associates with quality cinema.

The success of 'Peepli Live' throughout India has indeed resulted in the recovery of the film's production costs through the sole sale of its satellite rights almost immediately. Additionally, it motivated more than 500 villages named Peepli to write to producer Aamir Khan, thanking him for producing a film that placed the name 'Peepli' in the spotlight.

If you happen to live in the UK, make it a point not to miss this comic and touching moment of entertainment. For information on screenings in London and other UK theatres click here.

Visit the Peepli Live official website
Buy the Peepli Live soundtrack
Read our earlier blogpost on 'Peepli Live' at the Sundance Film Festival - including a video interview with Aamir Khan by thehollywoodreporter


Director: Anusha Rizvi
Screenwriter: Anusha Rizvi
Cast: Omkar Das, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Raghuvir Yadav, Shalini Vatsa
Produced by: Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao
Coproducer: Ronnie Screwvala
Background score: Mathias Duplessy
Soundtrack: Indian Ocean

Hindibuzz at CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2010

 

Cannes definitely Hindibuzzed this year with India's participation in the 63rd edition of France's renowned film festival.

* Acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur (Bandit Queen, Mr. India, Elizabeth) was a member of the 2010 jury.

* Udaan participated in one of the festival's official sections ("Un Certain Regard" - A Certain Focus). The film is produced by Anurag Kashyap and directed by young Vikramaditya Motwane and earned a standing ovation after the screening.

* Khandahar (directed by Mrinal Sen) and Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (directed by Ritwik Ghatak), films that were released several decades ago, were both restored and presented to the audience.

More news included the presence of actors on the red carpet and additional film screenings or sales:

* Raavan, Mani Ratnam's awaited film, starring Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan and Vikram as well as the highly appreciated soundtrack composed by A.R. Rahman.

* Peepli Live, directed by newcomer Anusha Rizvi, an Aamir Khan Productions film was seemingly screened in Cannes after having gathered applause in other festivals around the world.

* Hissss (aka Nagin: The Snakewoman), coproduced by India and the USA. The film is directed by Jennifer Lynch and stars Irrfan Khan, Mallika Sherawat and Divya Dutta. You may visit the film's official website.

* Mallika Sherawat walked down the red carpet as she also performs in Love, Barack directed by Doug McHenryset.

* Other films have been promoted for overseas distribution: LSD, I am Kalam, Harischandrachi Factory, as well as animation films Arjun-The Warrior Prince and Alibaba and 41 Thieves. 

Cannes Film Festival official website

AAMIR KHAN Video Interview

Bollywood Hungama has released a new exclusive interview with Aamir Khan on the eve of his 45th birthday. He talks about film making, box office success, 'Peepli Live', copyright and his judicious decision to step aside as an actor for a certain period of time and concentrate on his personal life. The video of the interview is presented in two parts.

The Hindi Cinema Blog team sends its deepest wishes of peace, fulfilment and happiness to Mr. Aamir Khan on his birthday.

We strive to keep this blog's content as exclusive and genuine as possible. However, the quality of this interview  has motivated us to share it here. The content is exclusively Bollywood Hungama's and the interview  is the work of Mr. Faridoon Shahryar.

'PEEPLI LIVE': FIRST TIME'S A CHARM

Anusha Rizvi's maiden directorial venture has been selected to participate in one of the prestigious meccas of independent and world cinema, the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA.

'Peepli Live' is the first Indian feature film to participate in the festival's World Cinema Dramatic competition and also coincidentally the first film that Aamir Khan has produced with the deliberate purpose of entertaining an international audience. The series of seemingly auspicious first experiences linked to the film lead us to think that "first" may indeed rhyme with "outstanding".

Additionally, 'Peepli Live' stars newcomers  Omkar Das and Shalini Vatsa alongside some of India's most notable actors, Raghuvir Yadav and Naseeruddin Shah.

Much speculative talk about the film in past months had reduced its plot to a serious and almost documentary approach on the issue of farmer suicides in India. Rizvi seems however to have taken the challenge further by scripting a film on such a delicate subject with black humour, concentrating on rural life, politics and the media's thirst for "scoops".

Tickets for the first show (January 24) are sold out but viewers able to attend the festival may buy tickets for subsequent screenings from January 26-29 here.

Watch video below of Aamir Khan in Sundance, speaking about 'Peepli Live':

For more promos, image downloads and information on 'Peepli Live' visit the Official 'Peepli Live' website

Director

Anusha Rizvi

Screenwriter

Anusha Rizvi
Cast

Omkar Das, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Raghuvir Yadav, Shalini Vatsa

Produced by

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao

Coproducer

Ronnie Screwvala

Composer

Mathias Duplessy