Waah - Paa review

by Amit R Agarwal






Paa is the story of a boy Auro (Amitabh Bachchan) who suffers from a rare genetic-disease – progeria – that accelerates ageing!

He lives with his mother Vidya (Vidya Balan) and grand-mom whom he affectionately calls Bum (Arundhaati Nag).

Auro’s simple existence is changed forever when a new-age politician Amol (Abhishek Bachchan) comes in his school to give away award in a ceremony. For unknown to Auro, Amol is his Paa.

R Balki is an intelligent director was amply proved in his first outing Cheeni Kum; in his second outing he firmly etches the belief!

Paa is a curious case of casting; as it sees the real-life role reversal on reel-life and the camaraderie between Paa Abhishek and beta Amitabh is crackling.

The success of Paa is that once into the film you forget you're watching Amitabh Bachchan; all you know is that you are watching a child on the threshold of turning a teenager – Auro. This is the genius of Amitabh Bachchan as an actor and R Balki as a director. Trust me all awards are Amitabh Bachchan’s the next season.

Not that the film hasn’t got any flaws. Vidya’s character and that of her mother’s reaction to her pregnancy are too western. Even today, in the metros as well, there are not too many single student mothers. Vidya decides to have a child out of wedlock while she is still a student. The way her mother asks her whether she wants to keep it or not, is also not plausible even in families with most modern outlook.

Lastly, all those cynics who called PAA a rehash of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Jack will have to eat their cynicism!

What rocks the movie:

Amitabh Bachchan’s splendid act, whereby he changes his entire persona and body-language, award-winning! This is probably the few instances in cinema where the comedy is done by excellent use of timing and body-language rather than tom-foolery.

Direction.
Performances – all actors have performed well.
Cinematography, P C Sreeram gives an entirely new perspective of Lucknow.
Music.

What chucks the movie:

Writing, the pregnancy part was a bit implausible.

VERDICT:

The film will be loved by everyone who enjoy a story well-told!