PAA
A rich cinematic experience, this uplifting film will leave you in awe of the extraordinary Big B
by Vishal Verma

An AB Corp Presentation of a Reliance Big Pictures Release a joint venture of AB Corp & Eros in association with Mad Entertainment of an AB Corp Production.

Producers : AB Corp & Sunil Manchanda
Writer –Director : R Balakrishnan
Genre : Social Drama
Target Audience : Family/General

Starring
Amitabh Bachchan...... Auro
Abhishek Bachchan...... Amol Atre
Vidya Balan...... Vidya
Paresh Rawal...... Mr. Atre

Technical Analysis

Auro ko bhol jaoge aur is ‘Auro’ ko apne ghar le jaoge. Big B the ‘angry young man of the 70’s, the mega entertainer of the ‘80’s the comeback at the ‘90’s & the prominence in ‘2000’ with KBC was not enough then Bachchan’s performance in this emotionally ridden rich picaresque sweet cinematic experience helmed by R Balakrishnan called ‘Paa’ will easily distinguish the difference between a star, a super star & a legend.

Big B is a legend & time and again this mega star has proved it be it Black or anything else, ‘Paa’ just confirms it. ‘Paa’ is elegantly made and winningly acted by Amitabh Bachchan who becomes a seriously super strong contender for the years top bollywood awards as the actor.

Technically dazzling with extraordinary make up work, you wish to take the make up guys Christien Tinsley and Domini Till to a hearty dinner as they contribute immensely in packaging the film to hit any sensitive family auds anywhere offering a cute sweet sips of intoxicating heart felt wines of emotional undercurrents with details of a child psyche suffering from progeria an extremely rare genetic defect that causes accelerated ageing.

The movie will make the audience feel the aura of ‘auro’, the makers are targeting obviously the families and B.O. should ensue. The helmer in his own story moves the film in a state of grace through super fine moments of a teenage child psyche suffering form a rare genetic disease that eventually works wonders for the film.

For example ‘Auro’s’ eagerness to go to Delhi to see the Rashtrapati Bhawan, his day out with his father, his analysis & his dance to name a few are moments of glory to this rare father – son bollywood story. It’s a smart move cause the mind remains the same but physicality changes. So obviously it was a smart thinking on the part of the helmer & the guys who put money in it cause it needed an icon or a megastar to take the challenge so that the audience can identify & feel the difference.  

Big B was the perfect choice as the icon is popular amongst the fathers & sons of bollywood followers & it has worked. Wittily written dialogues adds to the charm where Abhishek & Vidya both shine in their individual roles & support the cause of the helmer making ‘auro’ more cute & lovable.

Although hard to pigeonhole, the picture could have avoided those political episodes which are totally out of place & instead could have included the difficulties what a child like ‘Auro’ would face amongst normal kids & how he copes with them.

Balki doesn,t cover this grounds & is more bothered on the ‘auro’ thingie ‘feel good’ smart gimmick which anyways by its very first frame manages to hold the audience backed by a finely tuned screenplay that succeeds in melting its concern audience.

If the above grounds where covered then the flick could have easily pushed the envelope in major fest without a degree of doubt. With A grade production values & quality technical support by P.Sreeram with his camera, sunil Babu with his art, Anil Naidu with his sharp cutting & Tapas Nayak with his perfect sound & veteran Ilaiyaraja strings to match the feel.

The Movie scores 4 out of 5.

One for the concept

One for the iconic Big B

One for the screenplay

One for the dialogues & performance by its supporting cast – Abhishek & Vidya.

The movie loses on not bringing the pathos of suffering child when he sees other normal ones & unnecessary adding the political chapters to this family oriented story.

The Story

Auro (Amitabh Bachchan) is an intelligent, witty 13 yr old boy with an extremely rare genetic defect that causes accelerated ageing.

He suffers from a progeria like syndrome. Mentally he is 13, very normal, but physically he looks 5 times older. In spite of his condition, Auro is a very happy boy. He is love child of Vidya (Vidya Balan), who is a gynaecologist & Amol Arte (Abhishek Bachchan), a young, progressive and a full of ideals, politician who is not in favour of taking responsibilities of a father before his ambitious career in politics the rest is an emotionally ridden sweet intriguing tale of how ‘Auro’ ables to unite his parents.

 

Promotion

This modest budget movie has been smartly promoted in indoors & outdoors. Making it sure that things don,t go overboard the balance has been maintain by Image smiths in print & satellite. Anyhow looking at the potential & Bachchan families association with various brands something innovative & tempting keeping ‘auro’ in mind could have been wonderful.

Business Analysis

‘Paa’ is a triumph in Bollywood cinema, a movie like deserves a good run & going by its modest budget (not more than 15 crores), the curiosity generated by the promoters & the out of the mill content & the execution with identifiable emotions will ensure smart returns.

Other Credits

Music Director: Ilaiyaraja. Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire. Cinematography: P.C. Sreeram. Art: Sunil Babu. Editor: Anil Naidu. Sound: Tapas Nayak. Costume: Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Aki Narula, Falguni Thakore, Rahul Agasti. Media Awareness: Image Smiths. Reviewed at Fun Republic, Andheri, Mumbai on December 03, 2009.

Certified with an ‘U’ certificate (length in reels 16).

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