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After Slumdog Millionaire, could it be Aamir Khan’s Peepli [Live] that will create ripples at the Academy Awards ceremony (better known as the Oscars)? After all, it has got the perfect plot: a film showing India in poor light.

This time a new issue, farmer suicides, is surely going to grab many eyeballs in Hollywood. But without any American or English director (Danny Boyle), will this film stand a chance?

The film, produced by Aamir Khan and directed by Anusha Rizvi, will vie for a place in the Best Foreign Language film category. Peepli [Live] is the third Aamir Khan film nominated for the Oscars. The other two, which jostled for a place for the coveted award, are Tare Zameen Par and Lagaan, but ultimately lost out.

Film Federation of India chairperson L Suresh said, “Peepli [Live] was selected for its stark portrayal of the Indian farmers and the vibrant depiction of the media in our country.”

The film swivels around the spotlight of farmer suicides in the country that our state and central governments have virtually been apathetic to. One of the states worst effected by farmer suicides is Maharashtra, mainly the Vidarbha region.

The governments (both state and Centre) had announced loan waivers to stem the suicides in the region. As usual, this scheme also was dogged by inefficiencies and as per the latest government claim, the suicide rate has fallen by 33%. But an arduous task still lies ahead before the issue is plugged to controllable levels.

Peepli [Live] highlights this plight at a tiny hamlet, Peepli, where two destitute farmers – Natha and Budhia - are about to lose their land for their inability to pay back their loan. Just then, their local politician advises them to commit suicide to highlight the issue.

Just when Budhia was urging Natha to do what the politician had said, a journalist overhears and Peepli becomes the frenzy of the media. The film centres around whether Natha will commit suicide or not?

Peepli [Live] has got thumbs up from critics. According to reviews, the film highlights a very critical problem the country faces very judiciously and how politicians and the electronic media exploit the issue to their advantage.

It has got the Aamir brand to its advantage, and despite not having any notable actor, it has managed to come into the limelight. But whether this new concept of poverty in Peepli [Live] will sell at the Oscars is to be seen.