Paa – is simple, good, beautiful and funny…
Let me start from the hero. Who is the hero? I was told it was Amitabh Bachchan. And to be very true I was searching him again again till the end. And I did not find him. Not even in one scene. I did not hear him too. I was not at all disappointed by it though ;-)
The movie started by Jaya Bachchan telling the names of the artists and technicians of the movie ending with an “introducing Amitabh Bachchan”. The start was a refreshing one. And don’t miss it in case you are going for the movie. So start 10 mins early from your homes.
The story is quite simple. But has an original Indian touch to it. Although the main idea was taken from some other Hollywood movie. This movie does not have anything common with that movie. So it is an original work of director Balki. So he sure deserves an appreciation.
Story
Amol (Abhishek Bachchan) and Vidya (Vidya Balan) meet @ college in US and soon they begin to love each other and Vidya becomes pregnant. But Amol does not have the intension to become a father yet. As he is in between his studies and also wanted to become a politician. And advices Vidya who also is studying medicine for an abortion and mentions the developing fetus as a problem. This makes Vidya angry, they split and she leaves for India
Auro Aka Amitabh Bachchan
Auro’s dialogues are all funny and very very enjoyable. With smiles and occasional laughs peeping out our mouths most of the time.
With very heavy make up Amitabh Bachchan carries himself effortlessly like a 13 year old boy with every detail. I feel 40 years of acting has made him do this role with ease. If at all the film is remade it would be a challenge for any person who plays Auro.
Vidya Aka Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan is stunningly beautiful throughout the movie. She also has done a fantastic job compared to Amitabh Bachchan. But I would rate her only next to Amitabh Bachchan.
Amol Aka Abhishek Bachchan
Junior Bachchan has done a neat job without overdoing anything. Abhishek Bachchan is becoming a seasoned actor with great potential. I feel his role was inspired from Rahul Gandhi except for the body guard thing.
The camera is handled by PC Shreeram which is good. And music by our own maestro IIlayaraja. Lookout for the symphony in “Gumm – Summ – Gumm” song. It is a pleasure to hear it in theatre. Although he has used some old tunes of his. It is sure refreshing to hear them once again.
Intersting scenes
Lookout for all scenes with Auro and his friends. All are very original and really good ones.
Lookout for all scenes with Auro and his mother Vidya. The cast makes the scenes more beautiful. You will enjoy them.
I am going to give 3.5 out of 5 for the movie. As I felt some scenes could have been written more beautifully. For example the scene where Amol takes Auro to Delhi
Guys do watch it and keep your comments coming in.
Nice review. I'd like to add a few points. I actually loved the scene in which they go rounds in the end. What caught me was the expression on Vidya's face. I don't think any other actress could have done better. The silence rpovided by ILayaraja after the low rumble as the light fades on Auro, is outstanding. The silence is absolutely chilling. Raja sir's background score actually outshines the performers in many places, notably, the end and the scene in which Auro goes inside the room and bangs the door shut, while Vidya and "Bum" try calling him out, with playstation. The piano bit for the upset Auro is unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteAnother beautiful thing is the adolescent voice for Auro and the end song all of which were rendered by Amitabh himself. That is really the icing on the cake.
As far as editing was concerned it had an uncanny resemblance to Gowtham Menon movies, where the illusion of "fast pace" was created by chopping of the gaps between words in many scenes. The political propaganda against Abishek, his walk through the streets, the DD news thing etc. The illusion of "action" in such a soft movie could have been avoided.
The dialogues are amazing and the typical early adolescent usage of abuse / slang has been handled brilliantly. Though I felt a few dialogues for Auro, didn't sound 13 year old'ish and sounded much more mature, which looked slightly out of place (Bacche paida kar rahe hain for instance - nice humor but out of place for a 12 year old).
Auro's sudden end came almost in a haste after he starts screaming since Vidya and Abishek haven't joined yet. Then the little girl comes, talks etc. It is as if IT ALL happened in minutes and Auro died soon after all of this. Too many stuff happening too soon actually takes away the amount of impact that Auro's death would otherwise have had. It could have been on a different day I thought. Raja sir actually saves the portion.
All in all an outstanding movie. A similar film in Tamil will be labelled as off beat. however this is considered a mainstream hindi film. Lots to learn for namma ooru I guess :).
- navneeth -
Thanks Navneeth... I also enjoyed most of the points you have told me. Now i feel the review is complete.
ReplyDeleteI dont know but the last scene should give the viewer the happy heavy heart feeling. But i felt that lacked a bit for me atleast. i feel that happened because too many things where shown in the last as you rightly mentioned. had that been managed i feel the movie would be much better.
To make a film like this in kollywood. I think we have to wait for 10 more years for Vijays and Ajits to retire. In case they make it they would have kept a glass breaking fight and a kuthu pattu. that would have destroyed this movie.
Nice to see such a detailed comment.
Enjoy movies.
Sabha.
Hi Sabha!!Simple,funny and beautiful are the exact words to be used for this movie..Great Review..Its nice to see a review in the comments section too...Thanks to navneeth...
ReplyDeleteHey Sabha..Remember we will be discussing about the upcoming music director Mr.Navneeth in the near future..waiting for that..:-)
a perfect review for a perfect movie.. everyone left out on Auro`s fav word in the movie "Potty" .. ha ha .. an enjoyable, melodious and heartfelt must watch..
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the one thing I carried from the movie till now (and will continue for some more time) is the childish, sarcastic "ha ha" of Big B from the movie... PS - Wonderful lyrics on "Mere Paa" (with good humming)
ReplyDelete@Sabha- Spot on with ur glass breaking and kutthu paatu thing. But 10 years, come one man, they aren't even close to the average Tamil hero's age :). But that said, that might not be the solution. The solution will actually be better channelling of entertainment factors and not stuffing all of dance, masala, music, comedy etc., into a single forum known as cinema. Hindi audiences have their dance albums, music videos and DJ stuff to take care of their dancing needs and an incredible, independently functioning music industry that churns out gr8 music for all classes of audiences, for their musical needs. While music still prevails in Hindi cinema it is free of or shall I say liberated from masala ingredients addition. So to speak for the stories as well. Hindi channels (news channels included :P ) churn out enough masala stories for them that they really don't have to expect those elements from a movie. These things have allowed the element of "class" to come out and thrive, which in any other case, would become the first thing to be done away with.
ReplyDeleteTamil audiences have not been exposed to alternate forms of entertainment and whatever minimal exposure they have had, they haven't quite been able to come to grips with the quality that some of them might have provided. Hence, the overwhelming expectation on Tamil cinema to deliver the goods, that too attempting to satisfy every single taste bud. Someone just needs to show them the possibility of alternate sources of entertainment and I think things will be alright. Good signs are showing up in Chennai and it is only a matter of time, before the good percolates down under. Our ever smart dictators of tinsel town will certainly latch on to the new trend.
@Mridula - Simple, funny and beautiful - spot on :). I'm particularly liking the "simple" description. It lived up to what the trailer showed it to be, as well. In the end, it is no Benjamin Button, as many news channels made it out to be but ended up being actually a much simple concept, easy to grasp, elegantly presented and wonderfully scripted. No rocket science.
As for the music dir thing, thanks a ton :). But the official event is still a few important months away in this volatile world.