Paa - Social message or entertainment?

Overall, Paa is another Star to AB’s glittering cine career. But a lot of credit goes to make-up artiste, lighting personnel and cameraman as well. But then, while watching Paa we do forget Amitabh Bachchan. It is only on Auro that one’s attention is fixed. And that’s where the Big B has got the cincher. Of course apart from some close-ups where his eyes give him away.

The introductions by Jaya Bachchan were, at the best, unnecessary. It shrieks “come see, we are the great Bachchans”. They might have as well included Bahurani Aishwariya for an epilogue.

Abhishek Bachchan is definitely at his handsome best with acting quite palatable. Also Vidya Balan has successfully portrayed the single mother, though not with the usual hardships. But then the movie is not about difficulties of a single mother. Rather that problem has been overwhelmed by the sick child she has to bring up all on her own, well maybe with some support from her mother. But then the nonchalance with which Vidya Balan’s screen mom treats her unmarried daughter’s pregnancy should teach something to all the new age Indian Maa’s!
Illaiyaraja’s music was good. Subtle instead of over bearing. As an audience you are not carried away by the music, however it brings out successfully the right kind of pathos intended.

How can a child of 12 have such a profound understanding of life? Granted, a person approaching death, with the knowledge of it, has more insight into life than anybody else of his own age, especially when facing such abnormality of life like Progeria. However the expressions of a child of 12 certainly cannot match those of Amitabh Bachchan in Paa, no matter what the real life circumstances of a 12 yr old progeria struck might be facing. Adding to which his being protected by a rich and successful Doctor mother and a granny as loving as one could be. And not to mention his helpful buddies in school, and even the teachers and the Principal of the school!
But then again, it is true that children often have greater understanding of life than their grown-ups grant them credit for. Therefore Auro(AB) very well understands that his parents need to be together, with or without him.

All in all “Paa” is entertaining, that is, if you like the pathos arousing kind. Though I certainly cannot say that Paa portrays the right kind of information about Progeria, it definitely serves the social cause of bringing Progeria to the forefront and help us understand the ailing, and not be afraid of them. They are, after all, only children, and need the society’s love and support while they live.