Paa [2009]

Amazing Experience

Paa is a simple film told in the most simplistic manner and that's one of the prime reasons why this film works big time. Auro [Amitabh Bachchan] is an intelligent, witty 13-year-old boy with an extremely rare genetic defect that causes accelerated ageing. He suffers from progeria. Mentally, he is 13, very normal, but physically he looks five times older. Inspite of his condition, Auro is a happy boy. He lives with his mother Vidya [Vidya Balan], a gynaecologist, but is completely clueless of his father's identity. Till he meets him, Amol [Abhishek Bachchan], who is a full of ideals politician. He takes responsibility for his mistakes, telling Vidya that he should be allowed to be a part of his child's life. A stunning reply from Vidya shuts him up momentarily: Just by giving birth to a child doesn't mean you are his/her parent.

The film comments on politics and the media several times. Auro suggests that politicians are dressed in white not because it is the symbol of purity, but because they are mourning the country's death. The media is once again portrayed as a blood-sucking leech, with no ethics. They will exploit anyone for "breaking news", and will stoop to the lowest of levels for TRPs. The film has explored all relationships very sensitively. The mother-son, father-son and grandma-grandson angles are all beautiful. The emotions are very real, the dialogues are lovely, and the editing crisp. Needless to say Amitabh as Auro is astounding. Probably his best work in recent times. The makeup is so splendid, you simply can't tell it's him. Some of his typical mannerisms do emerge at times, but otherwise, it was a flawless performance. Abhishek held his own in a role that threatened to be overshadowed by his father. He looked dignified, and was completely at ease in the presence of the Big B. Vidya was perfect. Critics will have little to complain, for she has mostly donned cotton saris and looked really graceful. She emoted with her eyes, something that a lot of actors could learn.

Paa is a well written and directed film, with adequate amount of emotions, fun and fabulous performances. The second half is brilliant with enough in it to keep you hooked. But the film suffers from a comparatively weaker first half. The pre interval portions deal with Abhishek’s political career and his rivalries, not exactly what you expect while walking in with expectations of a touching father-son tale. But the second half more than makes up for it and its this half that makes Paa a tremendously satisfying watch. Paresh Rawal is effective. Arundhati Naag is amazing. So is the kid, Pratik, enacting the role of Auro's best buddy. His telephonic conversation with Auro is superb. Jaya Bachchan's presence is lovely. Watch out for the tear-inducing sequences involving Auro and also those light hearted moments all of which are written, executed and performed to perfection. Overall, Paa had potential to be a much better film than it turned out to be. Watch it for the powerful second half and an award worthy performance by the legendary Bachchan.

Paa

• A very rare father-son son-father story...

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Paa

• When Amitabh Bachchan appeared in school as Auro for the first time, the students were actually shocked at his appearance. They didn't know it was Bachchan and thought it was a real old man - they even wanted to touch his head.
• Amitabh Bachchan's makeup/prosthetics as Aurol Arte took six hours to apply.
• Amitabh Bachchan acts as a son, whose father is played by his son Abhishek Bachchan in paa movie.
• Paa was inspired by Jack (1996), making it the second film to star the Sr.-Jr. Bachchans that has been based on a Francis Ford Coppola film. The first was Sarkar (2005), which was based on The Godfather (1972).
• This is the second time Amitabh Bachchan draws inspiration from a Robin Williams film. The first was Aladdin (1992), which inspired Bachchan's performance as Genius in Aladin (2009). This film paa was inspired by Jack (1996), which stared Williams in the eponymous title.
• Paa has been post produced at Prime Focus.
• Parts of the Paa have been shot in Cambridge, UK.