Vidarbha farmers seek ban on Peepli Live

Nagpur, Aug 17: While Amir Khan's latest home production 'Peepli Live" is inviting high praises across various spheres, the movie has offended Vidarbha farmers.

Nagpur based farmer advocacy group, Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) has sought a ban on the film which narrates the tale of a poor farmer who commits suicide for compensation.

VJAS has urged the Maharashtra government to ban the movie citing that the movie trivialises the issue of farmer suicides and is "far from reality."

In its letter to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the VJAS said, "TV serial Bairi Piya has shown that debt-trapped Vidarbha farmers are selling daughters to clear their debt. While 'Peepli Live' is far from reality and an insult to poor farmers of Vidarbha who have been victims of globalisation and wrong policies of the state."

While the producer Amir Khan maintains that the movie is not about farmer suicides, the advocacy group has argued that the Bollywood star should have consulted experts before finalising the script.

The VJAS has also accused the movie of making things difficult for the farmers' widows who are demanding compensation.

OneIndia News