Peepli Live' is India's entry at Oscars

Aamir Khan's production "Peepli Live" is to be India's official entry at the Oscars, an official at the Bollywood star's office said Friday. "Peepli Live" is former journalist Anusha Rizvi's debut film as director. It has been shortlisted in the Best Foreign Film category. The film, which does not boast of any big stars, is a satirical take on farmer suicides in India and takes pot shots at the media, politicians and bureaucrats.  Plot Summary forPeepli Live On the eve of national elections in the Indian village of Peepli, two poor farmers, Natha and Budhia, face losing their land over an unpaid government loan. Desperate, they seek help from an apathetic local politician, who suggests they commit suicide to benefit from a government program that aids the families of indebted deceased farmers. When a journalist overhears Budhia urge Natha to "do what needs to be done" for the sake of their families, a media frenzy ignites around whether or not Natha will commit suicide.  Natha a poor farmer from Peepli village in the heart of rural India is about to lose his plot of land due  to an unpaid government loan. A quick fix to the problem is the very same government's program that aids the families of indebted farmers who have committed suicide. As a means of survival Farmer  Natha can choose to die!!! His brother is happy to push him towards this unique 'honor' but Natha is reluctant. Local elections are around the corner and what might've been another unnoticed event turns into a 'cause celebré' with everyone wanting a piece of the action. Political bigwigs, high-ranking bureaucrats, local henchmen and the ever-zealous media descend upon sleepy Peepli to stake their claim. The question on everyone's lips - "Will he or Won't he?" As the mania escalates what will be the fate of Farmer Natha; nobody seems to care how he really feels?