December 13, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):It is going to be the 83rd year of Academy Awards in 2011. Since all these years, only three Indian films could make it to the Oscars and interestingly, all of them had poverty as the main theme of the story.

Mother India was Indias first nomination for Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film in 1958. The film starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar, was also based on rural India and its sufferings. The second nomination came after three decades in 1988 in the form of Mira Nairs first feature film titled Salaam Bombay, which showcased the poor condition of the street children in Mumbai. The third film was Ashutosh Gowarikers periodic film Lagaan, which again showed the battle of a group of poor villagers in getting exemption from the British government by beating them in a cricket match.

One thing was common among all these three films and it is Indian poverty. Now, this fourth nomination from India Peepli Live is also based on the poor section of the country. The film deals with the plight of the rural people, who need to fight for getting basic amenities in life.

So, does it mean that the Oscar juries are only interested to watch Indian poverty? Film veteran Utpal Borpujari does not agree with this and says that Academy is not interested in the backdrop of a film. He added that the juries look at the prospect of the film as a piece of cinema and how strongly the story has been told. He adds that Academy members often opt for movies based on current political issues.

However, Peepli Live is not only about Indian poverty. It has told the story in a very wonderful manner with proper highlight on issues like corruption and farmers suicides. With her master piece, the director Anusha Rizvi has managed to amaze both the classes and the masses through this black comedy.

--Sampurn Wire