Paa (2009) User Reviews

I'm glad it's original

[jaskunwar993 · 7/10 · 4 December 2009]

For once, I was entering a Hall with the assurance that the movie I was about to watch was something ORIGINAL, something not copied from the West. And so, OBVIOUSLY, my expectations were low. You never know what you can expect from an original Bachchan movie! The credits began, and Jaya Bachchan could be heard individually pronouncing each name (the cast, the team behind the movie), and slowly, by the time she reached "Writer and Director", you wished her to stop. And then, in a magical tone, she says "Paa!", laughing along, and a soothing tone fills your ear and heart... and you know, yes, this is going to be a good show.

Paa has its moments that touch you, that move you, that make you laugh, that make you feel warm, that make you happy... etc etc. There are moments that are supposed to make you cry... but they don't. I guess that's where Paa fails. Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role delivers a sweet performance, and Abhishek is seen trying very hard to fit in. Vidya sort of stumbles out of her "Vidya" character. The music of the movie is simple. The end credits song sung by Amitabh Bachchan was one amazing track. Even "Hitchki" was nice. The direction and flow was simple, though the cuts between Auro's waiting and Amol's political moves were rather jerky. The cinematography was simple and fulfilling, though the editing required spicing up.

In the end, definitely go watch Paa. I was disappointed to find only 15 had come for the first day first show... me being one. It's films like these that should be more prevalent. In contrast, if Kambakkht Ishq was a HIT, then in that case this should be a BLOCKBUSTER. Sadly, I know that will not be the case.

7/10.

The father, the mother, the Auro... all is good but could've been better!

[Peter_Young · 7/10 · 13 February 2010]

R Balki directs 'Paa', a film I was very interested to watch. At first, the promos did not impress me and I expected to see a pretentious film at best, but the positive reviews and several recommendations made me finally catch this one. The film was a pleasant surprise: nice and simple, but somehow I still expected something else. R Balki did a very good job in terms of both writing and direction. The film's story is well-written and told, the execution is steady, and the dialogues are witty and light. But at some point I did feel that something was missing there. Don't know what. Maybe something in the portrayal of Auro's relationship with his mother could have been better done, though I liked how Balki portrayed his friendship with school kids, particularly a boy named Vishnu.

Bachchan's casting in the role of Auro, which created a lot of buzz and curiosity pre-release, was brave and bold, but frankly speaking, it would have been more interesting to see a child actor playing Auro. I say that while considering the many young talents in the industry who could have easily been suitable for the part. Bachchan is somewhat overly tall for the role and since all of us know Auro is played by the great Amitabh Bachchan, it reduces the level of credibility in the film's authenticity, and many may feel it was made to showcase his greatness and to evoke such reactions as "wow! He plays his son's son!"

But Bachchan does not disappoint. He manages to make Auro a likable character with his under-toned line delivery, expressive eyes and simplicity. A lesser actor of his age could have played the role in an overly childish manner with exaggerated mannerisms and noticeable attempts to overdo and emphasise the character's young age and disease symptoms. But not Bachchan. Hardly recognisable under this heavy mask of make-up, he naturally transforms into a little, intelligent kid of our times and is thoroughly convincing.

Abhishek Bachchan, playing his real-life father's father is strictly okay in a role that is not very deep or demanding but still contributes to the film significantly. Vidya Balan is excellent as Vidya, the caring and loving mother who is also an assertive and independent career woman. Balan acts with grace and restraint and she is natural and compelling throughout. And she is absolutely stunning in her traditional Indian looks. Arudhati Nag is fine and effective as Vidya's supportive mother. The child who plays Auro's best friend Vishnu is simply adorable. I particularly liked a scene in which Auro and Vishnu have a phone conversation, and Vishnu sharply criticises his father. That was hilarious!

Coming to the music, Ilayaraja composes a lovely, classical and joyful soundtrack for the film which gives it a very light and feel-good mood. The editing and the cinematography are well-done. Towards the end, 'Paa' is a bit emotional. It neither made me shiver nor tear, but it still was efficient and moving. I recommend you to watch 'Paa' with family or friends. Do not plan to either hate or love it. If you watch the film trying to ignore this wow factor, you will definitely enjoy it and will probably be able to appreciate Balki's efforts to make a lightly dramatic episode about one young boy and his relationships rather than a socially educative film on progeria. Just enjoy this witty, interesting and refreshing piece.

Bachhan All The Way

[amolpbidkar · 7/10 · 2 June 2023]

Oh my god. I was reading some of the reviews and thought if these people should just go out and direct the movies..😜. Anyways .. Paa- a good entertaining light hearted movie, which make you laugh and cry. Half an hour short, and this would have been a much mucn better movie. But Still R Balki deserves a credit for daring such an attempt and doing good with it. Vidya and Abhishek support tjhe film with their superb acting abilities. But its the BACHCHAN that lingers in your mind even after you reach home after watching the movie. What a transformation. And main thing is...his entire life he is know for his barritone voice, tall and dominating personality...and even then you just could find Bachchan in it but Auro. Thats the greatness of a man. Had it been a Hollywood movie...our Indian audience would have praised it like anything. But as Mr Bachchan is Indian, its taken granted and praised less...Thas a fact. What Hollywood does is only something extraoridinary for so called Intellectual Indian Audiences.

The story of Auro, a 13-year old boy suffering from progeria. And the story of his Maa, and Paa. In true Bollywood style.

[satyanshu_singh · 4 December 2009]

Imagine this. R Balki arrives with his second film after Cheeni Kum (2007), starring Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Paresh Rawal and introducing a twelve-year old child actor. We do not know this kid, although it is possible that he impresses us all after we see him perform. But does this essentially guarantee a bumper opening for the movie? Can we safely assume that the audience will come into the theatres? Now, take this. The entire cast and crew remains the same. And although it is indeed possible to find an immensely talented child artist and create the desired character using prosthetic make-up and voice modulation, the director decides to cast Amitabh Bachchan as the child. And he calls the film Paa. The result is for us to see, in the form of one of the most smartly promoted films of our time. This is what we call star power. This is what I admire about the phenomenon of a superstar. And this is what this film uses in the best possible way.

The film also uses the personality, and not the acting, of Abhishek Bachchan to create a gen-next politician, and we connect. It uses Vidya Balan to portray a strong, independent, modern Indian woman, and most importantly – a mother; and we connect. And it utilizes the human curiosity for the weird, our tendency to look at 'freaks' with wide eyes and held breaths, and converts that 'freak' into a warm, lovable and memorable character called Auro, and takes us into his world. It uses songs, melodrama and the Bollywood cliché to tell a story. It relies on the time-tested formula of emotional manipulation and succeeds in making the audience cry. It has decent production values, is marketed smartly and sold at cheap rates. The result is not a great, timeless, flawless piece of art. The result is a film that knows how to use the illusion of the medium. The result is a movie that moves.

The best thing about Paa is that it knows what it is doing. It does not claim to be 'socially relevant', and does not ask us to leave our brains home before coming to the theatres. Instead it asks us to bring our brains, our hearts, our entire selves, not excluding the 'curiosity for the weird' that we all have but fail to accept. It treats itself as a film for everyone, and successfully creates an entertaining cinema experience. In its attempt, it often gets inconsistent, but it never seems uncertain. It is an innovation, and yes, that it is, which is sure of itself, including how to sell itself. It is an innovation that does not go wasted, and that is indeed an achievement in the Hindi film scenario of today.

It has been a few decades now and Hindi cinema is desperately in the need for revival. For that to happen, if it ever happens, we need socially relevant cinema, we need cinema as works of art, we even need cinema with an international appeal, and with the guts to experiment . But what we need most is innovative ideas, true to Hindi cinema sensibility and tradition, not necessarily great in the absolute cinema-sense, but films which make people come, watch and connect. We need more films like Paa. I have no idea about how it is going to fare at the box-office. If it is a commercial success, my point would be proved beyond doubt. If it fails, well, I will try my best not to lose hope.

Good

[silvan-desouza · 7/10 · 5 February 2010]

First of all Hats off for Amitabh Bachchan and Balki

Amitabh who off recent has done several bad films like ALADIN redeems himself and comes back with a bang with PAA

Balki after the refreshing and likable CHEENI KUM comes yet again with something that is different and nice and against stereotype

The film isn't a sentimental or a film like TZP here the film is treated like a light film even though the disease is shown which is nice perhaps ppl are used to see the sentimental side

The film starts well, Amitabh's character is well introduced and his scenes are nice Even Abhishek- Amitabh scenes or Amitabh scenes with his family are treated well and look realistic

The film is however ruined by the added subplot of Amitabh's political campaigns which take the film away from the plot but otherwise the film is well handled The climax too though melodramatic is well handled

Direction is good Music is okay

Amitabh excels as AURO, in fact he creates history and is flawless Abhishek too does a good job as Amol Vidya is excellent, after several reptitive roles she finally tries something different and does a good job Arundati Naag is good too The rest are all good Paresh too is good in a cameo

Paa: Excellent!

[rajandey · 10/10 · 8 December 2009]

Just got back from the theatre, I am so happy I have seen this movie on the big screen. Paa is an original product. The movie revolves around progeria and has a wonderful story around it.

Amitabh Bachchan excels as Auro, he delivers an astonishing performance as a kid. It's been long since I really really REALLY appreciated a performance by Big B, since his last few outings were crazily commercial.

Abhishek Bachchan is wonderful as Amol, he delivers a confident performance as the clean politician wishing the best for India, kudos! Vidya Balan looks beautiful, and delivers a perfect performance. We all know she is a fine actress, she was gone for a while after Kismat Konnection, which I thought was kind of bad, but she's back with a bang! Paresh Rawal is again absolutely wonderful as Amols father, his expressions always rock.

All in all, I am very pleased with this movie, after a great start with Cheeni Kum, R. Balki is on his way to settle his name amongst the quality directors of Bollywood.

The music is foot-tapping, the best of the lot is of course "Mudi mudi", of which the scenes in the film have been edited so beautifully.

Paa is beautiful, go watch it on the big screen while you still can! 10/10

nice attempt... could have been better

[mehraankur2001 · 6/10 · 8 December 2009]

the movie is very simply made. in fact i will say the visual language is almost same as in the other movie by Balki - cheeni kum. Amitabh Bachchan does a nice role. its not easy to play a 12 yr old kid when you yourself are 60+. there are a few points which seem stupid or fake or non-practical. abhishek bachchan's role as a politician is trying to show the latest generation of politicians in India. can be related to rahul gandhi to some extent. the directors take on media at present times is good. hope our media learns a few points from it. vidya balan and the kids in the movie do average roles in the movie.

worth a watch.

You got to see this cinematic excellence.

[bobbysing · 9/10 · 6 December 2009]

"Paa" evidently proves that Bollywood has still not lost it all and we still have film-makers who can deliver movies at par with the other parts of the world. Yes, the story-idea may have been borrowed from Francis Ford Coppola's "Jack" and the make-up may remind you of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". But at the same time, it's also true that "Paa" has nothing else related to these two names.

"Paa" certainly belongs to its director R. Balki and the phenomenon called Amitabh Bachchan. Just when everybody thought that this man has done it all, he comes up with an extraordinary and out of the world character named "Auro". What's even more astonishing in his portrayal is that you never find the real Amitabh Bachchan anywhere on the screen in those two hours. In the entire past comprising all his mammoth blockbusters, Amitabh has always been there as a Bollywood persona hidden in his on screen characters. But here is a movie where you know that there is Amitabh featuring in it, but you still can never feel him on the celluloid. He simply adopts a completely different soul minus his world famous style and baritone voice structure. And that's the magical spell, cast by the magician actor. Truly speaking, Amitabh literally sends every reviewer in search of new words to praise his impeccable and incomparable act of 'Auro' in "Paa".

Right from the first scene introducing "Auro" in his school function, the veteran actor makes you believe what you are seeing. He humbly forces every viewer in the theater to admit that he is watching the most accomplished actor of all times who has just walked beyond any number games and Bollywood Titles. Especially in the scenes where he is interacting with his kid friends in their own school lingo and in the emotional climax sequence inside the hospital, Auro goes on to set new benchmarks for the entire Indian Film Industry. Though the script has some unnecessary references of political activities and slums which could have been easily avoided, but the spotless performances of the entire cast don't let you ponder over these needless insertions and the movie goes on impressing you continuously.

Unexpectedly Amitabh is not the only one to watch out in the movie. He is superbly supported by three highly talented people in the cast lead by Vidya Balan as a tough mother who raises Auro on her own with the help of her mother. For Vidya's effortless performance, I would only like to say that in all these years of movie watching, she is the only female actress who reminded me of Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan and her flawless natural acting.To feel what I am trying to say, just carefully watch the scene where Vidya gives Auro her approval to visit Delhi. She exactly acts like Jaya in that particular scene.

Abhishek Bachchan as the truthful politician and father of 'Auro', delivers another polished act on the lines of his "Guru" and "Yuva". He comes up with a very controlled emotional performance and never tries to outshine any other person in the scene. Both Vidya and Abhishek share a very cozy chemistry on screen which actually helps a lot in enhancing the overall impact of 'Auro' on the viewers.

The third worth mentioning act comes from Arundhati Naag, who plays Vidya's mother and Auro's naani, whom he fondly calls as Bums. Her praise worthy act emerges as a strong pillar in addition to the other stalwarts present in the movie. Paresh Rawal again remembers his immense talent after few irresponsible acts in some brainless movies. Last but not the least come all the child artists in the movie, who are intelligent enough to understand the pain and suffering of their friend "Auro" and try to help him out wherever they can. It was really nice to see that 'Auro' was not being teased in his school as suggested by the promos. In fact it was very thoughtful to show all the kids having the empathy to feel the abnormality 'Auro' was born with.

Musically, the film has the maestro Illayaraja to give exactly what was needed as per the subject. His theme music is pleasant and his songs don't act as a hindrance in the narration. R. Balki very skillfully uses the songs in their short versions and in the background wherever needed. Dialogues are intelligent, witty and well written. Cinematography by P.C. Sreeram is remarkable. He brilliantly uses innovative camera angles to portray the character of "Auro" and his abnormal body structure. But what makes "Paa" so believable is the unimaginable make-up done by Christien Tinsley and Domini Till. Kudos to the duo to achieve this herculean task and hats off to Amitabh Bachchan for undergoing such a painful process in this age.

Honestly, the main highlight of the movie is that even when the story revolves around a diseased character with an abnormal behavior, the director is simply not interested in taking you onto an emotional journey at all. So, "Paa" is not just another tear jerker as expected by many. On the contrary it's a very enjoyable movie having many light entertaining moments with 'Auro' for everyone in the family. And for that the director R. Balki rightly deserves all the praises.

In short the movie is an amazing must watch experience for everyone still enjoying the gift of life at any age. It makes you realize the importance of all your days left in the count. And on the top it has a performance which can easily be kept along with any world class act by any actor in the entire globe. In other words, only one statement can match the unbelievably expressive and impressive act of Amitabh Bachchan in the movie.

He once again proves that at present he is the only "Big Paa" for the entire Indian film Industry.

uneven but sometimes moving drama

[Buddy-51 · 6/10 · 15 September 2010]

If Bollywood movies are to be believed, life in India is just one long song-and-dance routine, replete with swirling colors and dazzling costumes. And it matters not whether the subject be comedy, drama, romance, politics, poverty or - as in the case of "Paa" - Progeria, an incurable genetic disorder that causes a person to age at an alarmingly accelerated rate, so that a mere child will have the appearance and body of an octogenarian before hitting puberty (think of it as Benjamin Button in reverse). It is a condition that invariably ends in premature death around the age of thirteen. Such is the fate facing Auro (an adult Amitabh Bachchan in prosthetic makeup), a bright and spunky twelve-year-old boy with the physical condition and ailments common to a man in his 80s. Auro is plucked from relative obscurity when the newly elected MP (Abhishek Bachchan) takes a liking to him – only to discover that Auro is his very own son whom he abandoned years ago when his girlfriend, Vidya (Vidya Balan), became pregnant and led him to believe she was going to have an abortion.

Like many Bollywood productions, "Paa" suffers from excessive length, an overabundance of sentimentality, and a too-cheery disposition towards the vicissitudes and hardships of life – and, of course, the seemingly insatiable need for the aforementioned musical numbers. However, in this instance at least, saner heads seem to have prevailed, since such scenes are kept to a reasonable minimum, even though the running time of 136 minutes is still far too long for the story it has to tell. The movie, written and directed by R Balki, also can't entirely resist the temptation to make Auro an object of humor (though not of ridicule), and it really turns on the waterworks as it heads to its predestined tragic conclusion.

All that being said, "Paa" has moments of genuine originality and charm, and its subject matter itself is so unusual and compelling that many of its imperfections can be readily forgiven.

Paa....!! Go for it....

[mujtabashareef · 9/10 · 5 December 2009]

Paa...a great movie...

I have seen it yesterday....loved it...story is simple and subtle, the characters are really very good...

Big B...he has shown his one more form of acting, no one could compete him on this.... He enacted the role of a 13 year old boy with so sincerity , that in Auro you will never be able to see that its him who is enacting this character.... Auro is a gem....

Vidya Balan as a unwed mother is good to see...she has proved her mettle once again after very long, thats after Parineeta.... she looked beautiful in sari's....

Abhishek Bachan has enacted the role of a Young Indian Politicain sincerely...if all India Politicians, become like him, we wont have any more corruption in India...

Paresh Rawal is good in a brief role and Bum is exceptional...

Technically, the movie is very well directed and the dialouges are very good... R Balki is a very good director and Paa is another feather in his Cap after Cheeni Kum....

Music by the maestro Ilaiyaraja is very good and soft on ears, Paa Theme is the best...

Go for it with your Family... This is for all ages from 6 to 60...

My Ratings..

Perfomrances... 10/10 Story and Direction ... 9/10 Music ... 10/10 Overall... 9/10

Paa is a lovely, sensitive film about a person suffering from a rare disease

[inforaza · 7/10 · 19 September 2016]

Paa is a lovely offbeat emotional movie revolving around a character suffering from an extremely rare disease of Progeria (rapid aging of the human body). R Balki's presentation of the story and Paa is very sincere and thoughtful.

PROS of Paa

1 - No cheap melodrama

2 - Sensitively handled story

3 - Positive portrayal of a progeria-afflicted Auro who is fun-loving and very intelligent

4 -Strong female characters in Vidya Balan & Arundhati Nag

5 - Soulful music by the great Ilayaraja

CONS of Paa

1. Auro is supposed to be 12-year old but Amitabh Bachchan is just too tall for that (obviously his casting was deliberate…only to attract more eyeballs no matter how unrealistic it is)

2. Abhishek Bachchan is supposed to be a new age politician who wants to see a new India; but, strangely, in a scene he is shown to wish away the corrupt practice of a govt. employee with the logic that if he has given 50 lakh bribes for the job he has to "recover" it (How strange! Or did I miss out on something?)

3. When Auro dies in the hospital Vidya is just standing by his bedside and mourning (it'd have been more appropriate if she had rested her head on his body and wept)

4. After Auro's death Vidya and Abhishek are sitting outdoor on a staircase consoling each other, while it is raining (How Strange! How odd! What significance does this rain hold?)

PS: Felt extremely sad when I read that the cute Taruni Sachdev (Auro's classmate) had died in a plane crash in 2012, in Nepal. I kept on looking at her photos as if I'd lost my own daughter. A sweet life was cut short even before it could develop wings to fly high.

Taruni, where ever you are now, you will always be remembered by your near and dear ones, and esp. ME.

Awesome movie................

[amitiwu · 10/10 · 7 December 2009]

Yesterday went to watch "PAA", i don't know why they called it PAA..

Nothing much in name. PAA is awesome, great performance by BIG B and Abhishek. Hat's off to Vidya too.

Auro is simply unforgettable. You can't stop yourself from laughing on Auro intelligent comments. And also Balki's direction with Ilayraja music is simply adorable. And i have to say you wont be able to recognize Big B neither by Auro's look nor by his voice. So great work by Big B's make up artist, Big B is simply the best. Music is very soothing , based on story and it take story ahead.

Its a new and fresh movie, with honest effort.

I'll give 9/10 to "Paa"...

Watch only to see Amitabh Bachhan make up brilliance

[roohiahuja · 6/10 · 20 January 2010]

After strong recommendations, reviews and mass approvals for this movie, I was slightly disappointed after watching it. No doubt Amitabh Bachhan's (AB) performance was brilliant - largely attributed to his make up and the lisp to talk like a 12 year old.

What was disappointing was that the movie lacked emotion. The movie was staged around a 12 year old boy suffering from this rare disease - Progeria, but it failed to give it's central theme more depth and understanding of the character. The boy's life is shown to be perfectly normal, school life is superb with a lot of friends and no social stigma whatsoever. Traditionally you will see this flaw in some other Balki directed movies as well - "Cheeni Kum" wherein you have this extremely happy cancer suffering girl "Sexy". The whole personification of some of his characters lack reality and seem to be overtly precocious. By the end it seemed just like any other Bollywood flick with the only difference being a child born with Progeria.

Maybe I was benchmarking the movie to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and in comparison the movie definitely failed. Also, in comparison to the movie "Taare Zameen Pe" which was staged around the central theme of Dyslexia where the character was an 8 year old boy, Paa was not a comparison. While it was a novel idea and a great performance by AB, I felt the movie could have been so much better for the 2.5 hours time that it ran for. Poor dialogues and average music did not make things any better. The great thing was the movie did not waste its time on showing the early romance between Vidya Balan and Abhishek Bachaan, which ideally should have given more time to focus on the central character- 12 year old boy. It should have focused more on challenges faced by the boy, his emotions, his understanding of the disease and the world as seen from his vision.

In all, the movie lacks to integrate and have a unified central theme. The only take away from the movie is the brilliant make up done for AB and his performance which truly has no parallel. For only that, I recommend you make time for it and watch.

Disappointing

[reverse-antidote · 2/10 · 11 December 2009]

WTH the movie makers were thinking..progeria children ain't no more than 3 feet and they are skinny like hell.. how about casting a child actor with make-up..uh ah..no this movie is just to show-case the acting(?)skills of Bachan and he wants to play son to his son..just for the sake of WOW factor..and progeria is just a freaking excuse..however if anyone is ready to digest the fact that an old man is playing the role of a progeria child (with a HORRIBLE FREAKY LOOKING prosthetic make-up)..guess he would not need make-up at all..if he would just shave his head..it would be perfect LOL.Paa is the height of casting mistake and a ridiculous one at that.

Wow!!!

[ketaki-dutta · 5 December 2009]

This movie blew me away !! Wow !! simply WOW !! I am so surprised that not much people commented on this movie and there is no ratings !!! I simply loved this movie. One of Big B's best...According to me, after Black, this is the most challenging role ever played by him. Vidya Balan and Abhishek did an awesome job. Paresh Rawal did not have a lengthy role but he did justice to his role. The main focus of this movie is on the character Auro who is so adorable !!! Big B hats off to you...thanks for this wonderful performance. It has been a long time since I watched such a wonderful Bollywood movie !!! Auro made me laugh, Auro made me cry, Auro kept me rooted to my seat till the very last minute. Such a beautiful movie. I appreciate the efforts really and also hats off to the director.If you have a passion for good movies then this movie is a definitely watch !!! 9.5/10.

A must watch for Big B and for Mr.balki

[vickyvj-51310 · 7/10 · 10 January 2017]

An 66 year old man as a 12 year old boy, very difficult to think but he makes it so simple . The plot of the movie is so simple but the cast and the situations and episodes of the movie is interesting and emotional . Bgm elevates every scene of the film , P.c sriram have again shows what can he do with his camera ..The major plus point of the movie is the whole movie gives you a musical journey . that is where shows the commanding strength of balki. Movie would have been even more shorter. on the whole definitely a different and a brave attempt by a superstar of India ...shows that he is not only a star but also an brilliant actor.

An actor driven film...

[Sherazade · 9/10 · 14 February 2010]

OMIGOSH, this one got me. I couldn't stop crying. Amitabh Bachchan is a living legend. I actually was telling my sisters that he was the one playing Auro and they didn't believe me even after his real life wife introduced him at the beginning of the film. Yes, Big B is that good in his essaying the role of a tragic little boy suffering from progeria(a rare disease that speeds up the aging process). Abhishek Bachchan(Big B's real life son) was decent in the scenes in which he didn't have to share with his real life father and Vidya Balan has proved yet again that she is the power house actress we suspected she was when we first met her in 'Parineeta', Paresh Rawal (who co-stars) is given very little to do but handles his scenes very well as Amol's(Junior Bachchan) father.

Paa: A mother-son story

[sniperswagat · 6/10 · 20 December 2009]

Amitabh Bachchan re-launches himself and his production company with 'Paa', and the expectations are huge.

Auro, a 12 year-old with Progeria, a condition that physically ages the patient 5 times faster, lives with his Mum and Bum (grandmother). He doesn't know who his Paa is, though he knows that he wanted to get Auro aborted, and hence hates him. Later, his mum tells him that the young and upcoming MP Amol Arte is his father. Without telling the MP the truth about their relation, Auro spends time with him, getting to know his Paa before his body clock runs out.

It is a novel story, and is not 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button', though you may find Robin Adams' 'Jack' in it. The screenplay lets the script down though. Was a dig at the media needed? It not only looks enforced, it has also not been executed well. The movie could also have been shorter by about 20-25 minutes.

This is Balki's second film after Cheeni Kum, and he again displays the same maturity in handling an unconventional subject as he did in his debut. He manages to make the poor screenplay work to an extent as well. His advertising background shines through in the promotion of the film as well. The hype generated, the promos have all been pretty good. But like Cheeni Kum, the final third of the movie drags a bit. In fact, it drags more here than in Cheeni Kum.

Amitabh Bachchan needs to be applauded for taking on such a challenge as a producer and an actor. He pulls off the kid act with ease, and never do you realize that this is actually a 65 year old man and not a 13 year old kid. Vidya Balan packs quite a punch as Auro's mother. She acts the part like a pro and looks very graceful as well. Abhishek Bachchan is satisfactory. He tries too hard to seem like a 'cool' politician, and that hampers him. Being cool is different from sounding cool. Paresh Rawal is adequate. We finally see him in a different role than his usual hamming comic roles. Arundhati Nag as Auro's grandmother is good. The child artiste portraying Vishnu, Auro's friend has the wittiest lines in the entire movie.

The music of the movie is decent. Nothing more, nothing less. Same goes for the background score. The makeup team needs to be given a standing ovation for making Amitabh Bachchcan unrecognizable in his prosthetic makeup. The cinematography is top notch. The title sequence featuring Jaya Bachchan is an innovative idea.

Final Verdict: Paa is good in parts and decent overall. Watch it for Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan.

Paa was Mindblowing

[thebeagleboy-599-922640 · 10/10 · 4 December 2009]

Yesterday I watched Paa and after seeing this movie I found this movie to be really really mind blowing and indeed very influential.The concept was fresh and the growth of the story was too natural.Nothing was out of the way!I don't see any huge mistakes in directions and lets take it simply as the way it was intended to be made.This is one of the movie which can make u bring tears and u can spend the evening thanking God that you were one of the luckiest one who did not had a fate like Auro.The few drops that i poured at the end of the movie was an acid test that this movie is no rubbish.Paa is mainly about watch Mr Amitabh Bachaan aka Auro a child suffering from Progeria the greatest actor of all times.What mostly enthralled me was the cheerful and never sad Auro even he knew he was dying every moment.Should not we be learning from him rather criticizing about the fact that it could have been "much better"??Come on guys wake up and see Auro with an open mind and plz leave ur intellectual eyes back at home.This movie is about a simple and absolutely loving boy Auro and lets take it as it is.It is about laughing with Auro and loving Auro with all your heart.God bless you Auro and all the crew!!U guys were simply mind blowing!!

Good Movie for a Change.

[Herag · 7/10 · 24 December 2009]

I have never heard of R. Balki or watched his previous film. This film was an experience in lot of senses. This movie is akin to "Elephant Man" who lived in England and suffered myriad of agony, albeit those times there was no genetic studies. There were few incredible scenes that melted the die-hards. Same token, there were few scenes that could have been written with more depth. The one scene-when Auro first comes to know about his father-the way the photo is shown and the emotion displayed and the time traversed is not in tune with the rest of the emotionally tugging scenes. The trick camera work that makes a Big man into a little person is amazing. Techinically, Indian Cinema has marveled but it was the story and screenplay that lacked behind. The story is very poignant and the actors excel in portraying. Amitab is an Icon who was born to act, but the best acting belongs to Vidya Balan as "Dr.Vidya". I have seen better acting from Abishek. Good movies have few things in common-they are written and produced by the same person. Balki's dialogs are good but too many references to a four letter word was not necessary and the point about pollution could have been made by other means. The movie is good when a story is well told and good references made to moral bankrupt(the couple consulting Dr.Viday for abortion-with there sole reason being too busy to have a child.) Suffice to say we need more movies like "Paa" and less movies like "Kurbaan" "Three Idiots" just to name a few. Rotten actors like Aamir Khan should be kicked out of the industry since their sole purpose is to enrich themselves at the expense of the unsuspecting audience. This movie should be an Oscar Nominee and a not a demeaning crap like "Lagaan".

Beautiful!

[AishFan · 10/10 · 22 December 2009]

Paa is an extraordinary film--technically brilliant with career-topping performances and a strong, emotional story that won't let you leave the theater without shedding a few tears. I have to start out by saying that Amitabh continues to outdo himself with each and every film. One could never tell that he was not a 12 year-old boy. I become a bigger fan of his with each new movie. Abhishek also gives his best performance since Guru. Like his wife, deep-rooted Indian roles such as Refugee, Sarkar, Guru, and Paa suit him the most. The mod, macho-man, college boy, and filmi hero looks (Dhoom, Dus, Kuch Na Kaho, etc.) don't suit him at all. I also feel that this is Vidya Balan's best since Parineeta.

Just goes to show that the director is a genius. He has put together the film so perfectly. Each scene is captivating and flows beautifully from one scene to the next. The strong emotions pull your heartstrings, and you are able to relate with your own life experiences in one way or another. The classical background score is lovely. The only thing I would have changed is the opening credits. Why is Jaya sitting and reading all the names?! Lol. But yes, this movie is a must-see.

Paa is waah - well, mostly

[kausticji · 6/10 · 28 March 2010]

The plot is predictable, more so the end and especially if you have bothered to look up "progeria" on Wiki. It has holes, is unbelievable in parts, sheds some unwanted light on unneeded details and can be, on the whole, termed inconsistent which, under normal circumstances and also given Balki, the writer-director's past track record (he seems to have a fetish for Big B in abnormal roles - remember Cheeni Kum?), is a perfect recipe for disaster. For some odd reason, Paa isn't one. And while it isn't exactly a gem, it has just about enough going for it.

So Amitabh Bachchan is too tall even when it comes to fully grown adult roles. The camera-work need to be out of the world in order to be convincing - sadly, it's not. And those of you expecting to see some tricks out of Appu Raja's book (remember Kamal Hassan's dwarf act?) will be disappointed. Then we have the unnecessary political details that are conveniently forgotten later in the film, which might be considered by some as a blessing in disguise, given that the politico-media rhetoric is not well done at all (a dynamic young MP from Uttar Pradesh who happens to be from a political family which may or may not be holier than thou - surprise!) Inclusion of some form of political commentary seems to have become a filmmaker's benchmark of sorts and Balki fails miserably on this count, since it is obvious he could not decide what he exactly wanted to portray - the rise, fall and subsequent rise of an over-idealistic Amol (Abhishek) all of which happens within a very short span of time, doubts regarding his father's wealth and thereby honesty (thus questioning the foundation of Abhishek's 'politics is not a dirty world') or a snapshot of the sleazy reality and the associated cynicism fuelled by the opportunistic media. Also, if strained personal equations take time to heal, public perception and the media's stance does not switch overnight either.

Then we have Vidya Balan - now here's another actress who looks gorgeous but cannot act to save her life. Worse, she chooses to reprise a role from a film which owes its success to the humour, not to her wooden act (I'm obviously talking about Hey Babyy here) - the angry, young and unforgiving single mother who will obviously relent at the very end. End result - she reaffirms the faith reposed in her by her critics. The latter part of the second half where she is required to emote and hams every time she tries to do so is a pain and takes away the good memories of the part leading up till then.

So what's good? Well, Amitabh owns! Leave alone the height issue, and what we have here is a gem of a performance - the make-up not only helped in disguising him, but also enabled him to deliver the dialogues in an almost perfect child-like accent (I say almost perfect because you just know that it is Mr. Bachchan - which is hardly surprising given that his is one of the most easily recognizable voices). Every scene with him in it, inevitably cracking a smart-Alec comment or two, or behaving only like a school-kid does is a gem, so much so that the second half seems to drag only because all the melodrama hardly ever gets Auro involved directly.

His weird dance might seem repetitive after a few times, but as far as Auro's wisecracks go, while a few of them may have been a bit too mature for a 13-year-old, most of them are the kind of things a middle school-goer would say - and it's the way that they're said that seals it. Abhishek, in spite of a somewhat weakly written and insufficient role, performs adequately, as do the supporting actors Paresh Rawal and especially Arundathi Nag as "Bum" (watch it to find out why). Overall, the first half is a breeze while the second half drags - and while the music is nice, the later songs seem to have been force-fed into the scheme of things - but that's alright.

Granted, that there are many chinks in the armour - and as a viewer, you should keep that in mind while you go watch this one. And go watch this one you should (exactly once, of course) if only to relive what we left behind way back on the platform of that unknown little station called 8th standard - an uncared-for piece of baggage full of silly jokes, laughter, mannerisms along, sadly, with our innocence.

Balki's astounds with simplicity and realism - Big B commands..

[kunalkhandwala · 9/10 · 20 December 2009]

Remember those legendary ads that mostly define the finest works of advertising on Indian television? From most of Hindustan Lever's products to Bajaj, Tata, IDEA and many more; to his last film, 'Cheeni Kum', R. Balki has proved to be one of the best creative directors and ' ad film' makers we have today. Now, with 'PAA', he proves to be one of the best film makers. Period.

The tale of a love-struck couple's careless encounter, a man's ambitious plan for his life against a woman's sacrifice while raising her child with a supportive mother leads us to a prodigal son- 'Auro' . While Auro's rare and incurable disability of 'Progeria' seems like a tragic foundation for a story whose characters are enacted by Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan and Amitabh Bachchan, R. Balki's writing and direction walks the sword's edge of realism to give us a funny, entertaining, witty , heartwarming and endearing film.

PAA is enriched with subtlety, reality, simplicity and stuff that comes straight from the heart. The last quality is especially depicted on screen through the sincere performances by Vidya Balan, Abhishek Bachchan, Paresh Rawal and Arundhati Nag. However, there is no superlative adjective in the dictionary for what Amitabh Bachchan has done and achieved in this film. It would suffice to say that even after reading such praise about his performance, you would still be unnervingly surprised after you watch him. To enact a child is one thing but to enact him when he has a genetic disorder that makes him 4 times older than he actually is.... now that's 'performace'. Without the use of ultra-modern technology, R. Balki, with the aid of some outstanding talent in make-up, sound recording, cinematography, music (Illayaraja), screenplay and that of his own writing and directing skills, has generated a marvel that without a doubt sets his work at par with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 'Anand' .

Amol Atre is now an MP who is out to change the image of politics while working more 'for the people'. His political ideology is what we would really hope to see in real politicians. Although one may accuse Balki of over-indulgence in the entire slum-rehabilitation campaign of Amol's to digress from more fun moments of Auro's life, it still remains under control because it does not lead to boredom. Although, it may have been a better fit for the 'Sarkar' movies.

Vidya's journey through being an ambitious young student to a mature and composed un-wed mother is depicted with surprising ease. Her portrayal of the loving and understanding mother who has accepted the reality of progeria's tragic curse is wonderful. Here is one actress who has proved yet again that she can play characters far better than those who play 'roles'.

Although Paresh Rawal and Arundhati Nag have a limited role, they portray their characters immaculately. Watch them closely when their characters have to play awkward parts. Grandmom playing a video game and Paresh Rawal convincing Auro that his time isn't up yet for him.

Among the more brilliant bits of the film are in school. The presence of a child suffering from Progeria who displays all traits of a normal child his age is so naturally convincing that it looks too smooth. Auro's friends are understanding yet playful and comfortable in the presence of this witty lad. Watch out for Auro's telephone conversation with his buddy Vishnu- the most hilarious scene of the year! Also, the explanation on the necessity of Algebra in Mathematics..... It is only after you reach home from the theater that you realize that the funniest scenes of the year, which were rendered by a kid, were actually by Amitabh Bachchan.

Moments shared by Amol and Auro are funny, witty and non-confrontational while the beauty of the film lies in the moments shared between Auro and Vidya. It's only when all three are together in the hospital that the film turns into a quintessential bollywood melodrama but far from the drag of 'Kal Ho Na Ho'. Balki uses music only in the background without disrupting the story's progress and Illayaraja delivers a fine theme for the movie that is lively. With witty humour and a subtle message just like in 'Anand', PAA reminds us to live your life to the fullest, no matter what you have at your disposal. It is an enriching experience that is heartwarming and with an endearing rendition of Big B's little 'Auro'.

9.05 on a scale of 1-10.

5 reasons why I didn't like PAA:

[the_weirdo · 3/10 · 21 December 2009]

1. Poor Poor Script. I couldn't find the theme, the concept behind the "story". I felt as if a story is made fit to showcase the greatness of the actors.

2. Unnecessary sub-plots. The story drifts from the actual subject so much that I got confused what the director wanted to show. In a movie dealing with progeria and father-son relationship why spend 30 minutes or more showing the media-politician imbroglio. What makes 'Taare Zameen Par' a better movie of that genre is that not a single moment in the movie drifts away from the main subject.

3. Missing the meaning of tagline's worth. There was no father-son relationship that was highlighted. Hence 'father-son son-father' thingy was just a marketing gimmick.

4. Songs. Not the music or melody of them, but where they are placed. Especially the 'Hichiki' song was put at a point where I least expected it.

5. The very reason why the movie was made. In an interview R Balki, the director of the movie, had boasted that when he was in the office of Amitabh Bachchan one day he saw the banter between Abhishek and his father as the role reversal. And hence he wanted to cast the real father-son duo as reel son-father. When he heard about the disease Progeria, he shouted 'Eureka'. In my opinion, it is a very poor way to conceive a movie. May be that is the reason for the poor script.

You might argue this as one of the best performances of Amitabh. Of course, he acts well that's why he is so great and I am one of his biggest fans. But one thing we must not forget that it is not that great actors make great movies. It is the great movies that make the actors great.

(Originally posted at weirdo-on-movies.blogspot.com/)

Paa - brilliant movie, but there is something missing

[mokshjuneja · 5 December 2009]

Amithabh Bachchan is flawless acting in Paa. But why make him look like extra terrestrial. There was a point in the movie where there were explaining the disease that his character is suffering - Progeria. In the movie itself, when the doctor is explaining, none of the images depicted them as abnormal heads. The children just looked old, why does fiction take undue advantage of medical science.

Sr. Bachchan who plays the character called Auro, I would not be surprised, if we have dolls being sold in Shoppers Stop, Big Bazaar, very soon. But one thing for sure, whenever Auro is in front of the screen, he just lightens up the moment.

This movie it seems like Bachchan Sr. is passing the baton to Bachchan Jr. It is high time, he does that. There is no competition amongst each other, but then there are a only a very few movies of AB Baby that are actually good. Naach, Guru, Sarkar, Sarkar Raaj and now this. Abhishek Bachchan is good political MP; no, this is not an oxymoron, it is the character. To that extent that you can actually see his voter's mark on his middle finger in the movie.

Simple Story. The 12/13/14 year old child suffers from Progeria and the disease brings the parent together. Three different occasions, when the age of Auro has been mentioned differently by different characters. One sincere request, stop comparing the movie to Benjamin Button, it is not! It was actually Robin Williams who was suffering the same disease in the movie Jack. It is not actually the original concept. The execution there are just too many cuts, that too very fast ones. The cuts becomes irritating towards the end. (Reference to Jack on IMDb) Songs are well intertwined and the lyrics bring an amazing soothing effect to the whole scene, last time this feeling seeped into the heart, mind, body and soul, during Taare Zameen Par. Hichki, Hichki and Mere Paa is simple and nice and my favourites.

The movie has its moments, but it just doesn't make you cry. The performance reminds you of Amitabh Bachchan in Black, but then that it was different, that was acting. In Black, when he was smiling, you were laughing, when he was upset, everyone in the theatre had tears in their eyes. Here, he just falls a little short of the getting the audience moved.

The other characters that needs mention is bum, grandmother to Auro played by Arundhati Nag (theatre personality, wife of Anant Nag). She was simply level headed, strong character. She was when faced with moral questions, she would be you take a stand, and you will have my support - that was brilliant. At the same time, the relationship between Paresh Rawal (Dad to Amol Atre) and Abhishek Bachchan does not come out that impactful. But individually there were sound.

Google being subtly being endorsed by Auro. (Tweet) Public Relations angle to the story, creative people need to stop treating like media as you can buy them. It isn't like this always, please do not under-estimate the media as your pawn. The movie does bring out the current affairs element in the movie through redevelopment issues and media being used to create a hype on this.

In short, it is a complete worth it paisa wasool movie for Amithabh Bachchan. I would like to highlight, even though Auro is cute it is not for the kid viewing at the same time.