Rangeelo Rajasthan - Udaipur

Paa-Film review

With Paa, Amitabh Bacchan has chartered those unchartered territories where no one else has dared to charter before. He’s stepped into the shoes of a 13 year old, named Auro who has a rare genetic disorder called Progeria which fastens up the ageing process. This means though Auro is 13, but due to ageing, his body is of a person who may be five times his age. And we don’t see Amitabh at all in the film because in Auro’s skin he is simply unrecognizable. Yes, unbelievable but true. His acting today has reached a pinnacle of near insurmountable standards. After about 40 years in the film industry and already a legend like status, Amitabh is such a genius who is not willing to rest on his laurels. With such a top performer, belief and reality always merge. With Paa, Balki too, was looking at risk differently. He has taken a road less travelled but has broad shoulders of Amitabh Bachhan to bank upon and he does not disappoint.

The film opens up with the little Auro who lives with a single mother Vidya (Vidya Balan), a gynecologist winning an award for being the most creative kid in school. The politician who presents this award to Auro is Amol Arte (Abhishek Bacchhan), the proverbial do-gooder politician and a member of parliament. Auro becomes famous as the media is after him and wants to catch a glimpse of him, making him uncomfortable. When Amol comes to know about Auro’s problems he ensures that Auro is no longer haunted by the media. Auro puts forth a wish to see the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amol obliges. Auro then discovers that Amol is his own father and thus, he conspires and ensures that his mother and father live together ever after.

Amitabh as Auro, takes over the film, the moment he is introduced, however the story of the slum redevelopment and the media bashing is a hindrance. The moment the film concentrates on something else on the film, everyone wonders where Auro is. Auro’s school friends too deserve applause as they are very good in the film. The scene when the little girl from whom Auro keeps running away, hands him a sorry card is touching. However, the way Amitabh conducts himself in the film; his looks, the way he speaks and his infectious laugh are simply astounding.

Balki never wanted this to be a film which would concentrate on an individual suffering from a rare disease and is about to die. He therefore chose to emphasize on the relationship between a father and son. He is hugely successful in the film as the chemistry between Abhishek and Amitabh is too good.

Abhishek Bacchan, as a politician has a look which is a mixture of Rahul Gandhi and Sachin Pilot and he settles well in the role of such a rare politician whose only intention is to do better for the country and tell everyone that politics is not a bad profession. With such a role, we are in for a big surprise as we have never seen such a dedicated guy before, even in films. Vidya Balan (looks like million bucks) in the role of a single mother is subtle and overwhelming. Paresh Rawal doesn’t have to do much in the film. Arundhati Naag as Auro’s grandmother is impressive. The film however belongs to Amitabh Bacchhan. He is simply glorious, magnificient, supra human, greater and much bigger than all the current actors put together. The dialogues by Balki are witty and creative. Music by Illayaraj is delicious. The make-up of Auro by Christian Tinsley and Domini Till requires a special mention as they have done wonderfully well.

Overall, Paa is an exhilarting experience which has taken Amitabh’s acting to unchallenged heights. And with Paa too, he keeps the audiences guessing, what next? Watch Paa with your entire family.