Haven't read a book but as a person who stayed in a poor Indian rural area for 2 years, must say this film portrays a pretty realistic picture. I'm not about the poverty now, but about total corruption, hopelessness, and mind-blocking with so-called "good old traditions", inability to break that circle, very low chances to improve life by leading the honest or legal way.
4 stars just because some characters been portrayed not really clear. I mean Ashok and Pinky. It was difficult to understand who they really are.