Peepli Live 2010

Natha Das ManikPuri, known simply as Natha (played by Omkar Das Manikpuri), is a struggling farmer from the humble village of Peepli in Mukhya Pradesh. His life is consumed by the necessity to provide for his family, which includes his elder brother, Budhia Das Manikpuri (Raghuvir Yadav), his wife, Dhaniya (Shalini Vatsa), their three young children, and their ailing mother, Amma. Amma primarily spends her days lying down and frequently scolding both Natha and Dhaniya, adding to the family’s burdens.

Natha and Budhia often feign farming activities, but in reality, they squander their meager resources on alcohol, leaving their family to face dire hunger. As pressure mounts from the banks for loan repayments, which threatens their land and home, an unexpected political twist arises. The Mukhya Pradesh Government is called to action due to growing scrutiny over the entrenched poverty endemic in the region. The ruling Sammaan party, led by district head Bhai Thakur, is under fire, while the opposition, Apna Dal Party, senses an opportunity to unseat them.

In a desperate bid to protect his family’s future, Natha is persuaded by his brother to contemplate suicide after Bhai Thakur insinuates that such a tragic event could result in a hefty compensation of Rs 1 Lakh for his family. While discussing their dark plot at a local tea stall, their conversation is overheard and reported by a local journalist, Rakesh. This catch of a story causes a ripple effect, prompting the Chief Minister to intervene, and Natha is soon enveloped in a media frenzy.

With national news outlets swooping in to cover the anticipated sensationalism of Natha’s potential suicide, the situation escalates. One particular reporter, Daytime Presenter Nandita Malik, is determined to secure an interview with Natha and his family. Meanwhile, rival channel Bharat Live, represented by Deepak, is also racing against time to capture the unfolding drama, each vying for a greater narrative.

As the community of Peepli transforms into a chaotic spectacle attracted by media attention, Natha finds himself ensnared between the political machinations of both local and national figures. The Sammaan Party seeks to mitigate damage by offering sops to deter Natha from taking his life, while opposition figures plot to leverage Natha’s plight for electoral gain.

Despite the escalating political circus, Natha remains alive and refuses to go through with his intentions. Tensions rise as Bhai Thakur breaks from the Chief Minister’s good graces and threatens Natha with death to prompt action. Natha becomes the focal point of a power play, with each party seeking to claim him as their own narrative.

Amidst all the turmoil, a shocking turn of events leads to Rakesh’s tragic death during a fire accident sparked by a chaotic media rush. In the aftermath, the government capitulates, mistaking Rakesh’s demise for Natha’s, resulting in the denial of compensation to Natha’s family. Ultimately, Natha escapes the suffocating grasp of his circumstances to become a laborer in Gurgaon, while his family loses their ancestral land to the banks, leaving them stranded in despair.