The Movie Analyst

Language: Hindi

Genre: Drama

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan

Director: R. Balki

Music: Ilayaraja

Reasons to watch: Watch it for the brilliant performances of Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan.

Reasons not to watch: For a simple father-son story (mother-son would be more apt), Balki stretches the movie too far.

Storyline: Simple storyline – Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy. Girl gets pregnant. Boy walks out of her life, while girl gives birth to a ‘baby boy’; well not exactly

Auro (Amitabh Bachchan) is an ingenious, jocular 12-year-old boy suffering from progeria -  a rare genetic defect that causes accelerated ageing. Psychologically, he is 12, very sane, but physically he looks about five times older. Auro is a content boy, despite his physical condition. Clueless about his father’s identity, his life centres around his mother Vidya (Vidya Balan), a gynaecologist and his granny.

The first hour of Paa clasps the audience in a misty way. Auro’s introduction is exceptional, but the story totally goes off-track the moment Amol Arte (Abhishek Bachchan) enters the scene. Though his portrayal as a determined politician is welcome, the way he  relentlessly keeps slamming the media is vexatious. In spite of some titillating scenes, the overall impact is not up to the mark. Some of Abhishek’s dialogues are simply unconvincing and lack substance in them.

But post-interval, Balki weaves magic. This portion of the movie conceals all the obscurities and the father-son relationship in the final 20 minutes  amplifies the magical effect the movie has on the viewers. With an overwhelming emotional quotient, Paa is a tear-jerker.

Climax Handling: You are bound to leave the theatre with moist eyes.

Points: Writer-Director R. Balki could have made the movie less lengthy. Looks like music maestro Ilayaraja has run out of musical notes. P.C. Sreeram’s cinematography is laudable.

Rating: 8.0/10

Comments: Vidya Balan’s excellent performance is ensconced by Auro. Amitabh Bachchan scores!