This is a realistic, well-written film depicting the struggle for equality and dignity being fought by the "tribal" castes of India. Indeed they have faced discrimination and manipulation at the hands of corrupt government officials ever since the founding of the Indian nation in 1948.
However, I also agree with the previous reviewer that the movie paints the Marxists in a pretty rosey light--given that they are prone to be just as violent as the police towards villagers throughout India. Although their slogans are that they are fighting for the people, of course we all know that they are fighting for themselves and their own ambitions to power. This was rather underplayed in the movie, as the Marxists in this one are mostly seen as the good guys.
The writing and acting in the movie are mostly done in a realistic manner--not the heavy handed melo-dramatic style of many Bollywood films. So too, the music in this movie is less formulaic and actually resembles the folk music and poetry of the Tribals more closely than the typical Mumbai fare. So I think many in the Westerner-audience will have an ability to appreciate this film more so than many others that come out of India.