'Peepli Live' India's official entry for Oscars 2011

New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Aamir Khan's "Peepli Live", a
satire on media's trivialisation of farmers' suicide, has been
selected as India's official entry at the next year's Oscars
in the Best Foreign Film category.

"'Peepli Live' has been selected as India's official
entry for the Oscars out of 27 films," Supran Sen, secretary
general of the Film Federation of India, told PTI.
Written and directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi, the
small budget film stars theatre actors and was shot in a small
village in central Indian state Madhya Pradesh.
Producer Aamir said he will ensure that the film is
seen by the Academy members and will ensure that it gets a
good publicity during the awards next year.
"This is good news. I feel honoured and happy to be
selected to represent my country. The film stands a very good
chance. My congratulations to Anusha Rizvi and the entire team
of Peepli Live," he said.
Co-director and Rizvi's husband Mehmood Farooqi said,
"We are very happy for our first effort...But it is a very
small step, we have to go a long way."
Through the story of a landless farmer Natha (played
by Omkar Nath Manikpuri), who decides to commit suicide to
help his family qualify for government compensation scheme,
the 102 minute film highlights the apathy of Indian
politicians and media towards the grave issue.
This is third time lucky for Aamir Khan Production as
the actor's previous films "Lagaan" (2001) and "Taare Zameen
Par" (2007) were also selected to represent India at the
Academy awards.
"Laagan", which saw Aamir playing a farmer in British
Raj, was shortlisted in a category of five but lost to Bosnian
war film "No Man's Land". PTI BK