The National Awards – another controversy with Aamir?

Why was Aamir Khan’s production that was India’s Oscar entry not entered for the National awards?
Read some details below and at http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2011/may/240511-Aamir-Khan-Anusha-Rizvi-Peepli-Live-National-Awards-Oscars.htm

From the nominations for the National awards
There’s more than that meets the eye as far as Peepli [Live]‘s exclusion from the National Awards is concerned.
When the awards were announced, it seemed like the country’s official entry to the Oscars was specifically ignored. Digging around, we found the film wasn’t even entered for the nominations!

A director reclaims her film

Anusha Rizvi, director of Peepli [Live], and Mahmood Farooqui, co-director and casting director of the film, were at the Express for an Idea Exchange. In this session moderated by Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express film critic, they speak of the idea of the film and what it was to work with Aamir Khan

Shubhra Gupta: Would you begin by telling us something about yourselves?

Farooqui: I did history at St Stephen’s College in Delhi and went to Oxford and Cambridge. I worked for a year at NDTV. I used to do theatre before that, I also did some film work. Then I stumbled upon Dastaangoi, an art of story-telling in Urdu which is now extinct. I revived it. In between, I wrote for newspapers. Then, Peepli [Live], and my book that came out recently, The Besieged: Voices from Delhi-1857.
More at link http://bit.ly/d3LGlf

Peepli Live to Oscars updated Udaan producer furious

Udaan producer rips apart Peepli Live

Play it as it lays, they say. Here is a no holds barred, angry response on his film being sidelined in the official entry race for the Oscars

Sanjay Singh, producer of Udaan is mighty upset as his film is not the official entry to the Oscars while Aamir Khan’s Peepli Live is. Singh feels that the film has only been selected because of the mighty star power of Khan.

Sanjay Singh said, “Aamir Khan is a very talented and respected actor. His film Peepli Live is good but

Peepli Live reviews updated

INDIAN REVIEWS

Minty Tejpal, Mumbai Mirror: 3.5 stars
Blessy Chettiar, DNA: 3 stars
Faridoon Shahryar:: "a film that happens very rarely"
Mayank Shekhar, HT: 4 stars
Pankaj Sabnana, Glamsham: 4.5 stars
Annirudha Guha, DNA:: 3.5 stars
Nikhat Kazmi, TOI: 3.5 stars
Saibal Chatterji, NDTV: 4 stars
Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama: 4.5 stars
Mithila Gupta, News Hits:: "Makes us feel enriched and entertained"

OTHER REVIEWS

Gary Goldstein, LA Times: "succeeds more often than not"
Janos Gereben: San Francisco Examiner: 3 stars
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle: "can't escape certain predictability to Westerners"
Rachel Saltz, NY Times: "after a compelling setup her [Rizvi's] script runs out of juice"
Rob Nelson, Variety: "peppy screwball comedy"
David D'Arcy, Screen Daily: "bawdy take on the rural class struggle"
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: "both funny and sobering"
Aaron Hillis, LA Weekly: "unusual taste of mainstream Indian cinema"

Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine:  2.5 stars
Michelle Oranje, Movie Line: "Rizvi is unable to commit to (or pull off) pitch-black satire"

Avg. rating: 3.6 stars (36)

Peepli Live Box Office: 70% drop week2

This week will see the release of Peepli Live which is a very interesting release from a box office point of view. Normally a film like this will be regarded by the trade and industry at large as a dry film and there will be no expectations attached to the film. But what makes Peepli Live different is the name Aamir Khan.

Peepli Live music is rustic and wonderful

Listen to the tracks HERE

Here is a track listing (with my brief thoughts::

1. Chola Maati Ke Ram
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Nageen Tanvir
Lyricist: Gangaram Sakhet
Music Director: Nageen Tanvir

Captures the essence of village life, beautiful track.

2. Des Mera
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Indian Ocean

3. Des Mera - 1
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Indian Ocean

These two tracks are also rustic, and have great lyrics.

4. Mehngai Dayain
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Raghuveer Yadav
Lyricist:
Music Director: Ram Sampat

5. Mehngai Dayain - Remix
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Raghuveer Yadav
Lyricist:
Music Director: Ram Sampat

Very catchy lyrics and tune, RaghuBir Yadav's voice is wonderfully used in this song.

6. Zindagi Se Darte Ho
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Noon Meem Rashed
Music Director: Indian Ocean

The one NON-rustic tune, but even here the lyrics evoke a rustic feel.

All in all a great album that should suit the theme of the film very well.

Peepli Live music is rustic and wonderful

Listen to the tracks HERE

Here is a track listing (with my brief thoughts::

1. Chola Maati Ke Ram
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Nageen Tanvir
Lyricist: Gangaram Sakhet
Music Director: Nageen Tanvir

Captures the essence of village life, beautiful track.

2. Des Mera
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Indian Ocean

3. Des Mera - 1
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Sanjeev Sharma, Swanand Kirkire
Music Director: Indian Ocean

These two tracks are also rustic, and have great lyrics.

4. Mehngai Dayain
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Raghuveer Yadav
Lyricist:
Music Director: Ram Sampat

5. Mehngai Dayain - Remix
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Raghuveer Yadav
Lyricist:
Music Director: Ram Sampat

Very catchy lyrics and tune, RaghuBir Yadav's voice is wonderfully used in this song.

6. Zindagi Se Darte Ho
Music Label:T-Series
Singers: Indian Ocean
Lyricist: Noon Meem Rashed
Music Director: Indian Ocean

The one NON-rustic tune, but even here the lyrics evoke a rustic feel.

All in all a great album that should suit the theme of the film very well.