The Bharat Bandh yesterday that brought the city to a standstill was a reaction to the escalating petrol and diesel prices that have hit the consumer hard with household budgets going haywire. Interestingly, that’s one of the issues that a song — Mehangaai daayan... — in Aamir Khan’s forthcoming production, Peepli Live, raises.

Anusha Rizvi’s directorial debut takes off with a farmer, Natha’s (Raghuvir Yadav) announcement that he will commit suicide to save his land. But Khan says that his film also touches on the subject of migration with villagers coming to the cities in search of better paying jobs and then getting pulled down by expenses.

“From the smallest village to the biggest metro, people all over the country are facing the same problem —the cost of living going up everyday,” the actor-producer observes. “The song is significant to everyone who is trying to make ends meet.”

He points out that the Mehangaai daayan track is actually sung by the women in the village of Bhadwai, where Rizvi shot the film. Increasing costs is referred to as the second wife who eats away all the money. The credits for the song read: Composed and written by Bhadwai Village Mandali. Yadav, the only known face in the film, is the lead singer.

Mehangaai Daayan Lyrics
Sakhi sainyyaan to khubai kamaat hain
Mehangaai daayan khaye jaat hai (2)
Har mahina uchale petrol Diesel ka uchla hai roll
Shakker bhai ke ka hain bol (2)
Usha basmati dhan mari jaat hai
Mehngaai dayain khaye jaat hai
Sakhi saiyaan . . .