It’s rare for a Bollywood movie to break out of India and gain publicity in the wider world, but Paa is doing just that. I don’t know if it’s the intriguing subject matter or the casting which is doing this but Paa is being talked about.
Paa tells the story of a 13-year-old boy named Auro who suffers from progeria. This is a rare real-life condition which sees kids age outwardly before their time.
Auro lives with his mother Vidya and doesn’t know his father. But he unknowingly meets him at a school event and the two form a firm friendship. The two then have to come to terms with the nature of their real relationship.
The casting is strange, with Auro being played by the 67-year-old Amitabh Bachchan, and his father in the film being played by his real-life son Abhishek Bachchan. Which is one of the weirdest role reversals I’ve ever heard of.
Paa is gaining mixed reviews, with some liking the simple tale and others finding it hard to slog through. It may not be the next Slumdog Millionaire but it is another movie proving Bollywood isn’t all about cheesy dance numbers.
