Roland E. Zwick If Bollywood movies are to be believed, life in India is just one long song-and-dance routine, replete with swirling colors and dazzling costumes. And it matters not whether the subject be comedy, drama, romance, politics, poverty or - as in the case of "Paa" - Progeria, an incurable genetic disorder that causes a person to age at an alarmingly accelerated rate, so that a mere child will have the appearance and body of an octogenarian before hitting puberty (think of it as Benjamin Button in reverse). It is a condition that invariably ends in premature death around the age of thirteen. Such is the fate facing Auro (an adult Amitabh Bachchan in prosthetic makeup), a bright and spunky twelve-year-old boy with the physical condition and ailments common to a man in his 80s. Auro is plucked from relative obscurity when the newly elected MP (Abhishek Bachchan) takes a liking to him – only to discover that Auro is his very own son whom he abandoned years ago when his girlfriend, Vidya (Vidya Balan), became pregnant and led him to believe she was going to have an abortion.Like many Bollywood productions, "Paa" suffers from excessive length, an overabundance of sentimentality, and a too-cheery disposition towards the vicissitudes and hardships of life – and, of course, the seemingly insatiable need for the aforementioned musical numbers. However, in this instance at least, saner heads seem to have prevailed, since such scenes are kept to a reasonable minimum, even though the running time of 136 minutes is still far too long for the story it has to tell. The movie, written and directed by R Balki, also can't entirely resist the temptation to make Auro an object of humor (though not of ridicule), and it really turns on the waterworks as it heads to its predestined tragic conclusion.All that being said, "Paa" has moments of genuine originality and charm, and its subject matter itself is so unusual and compelling that many of its imperfections can be readily forgiven.

Sherazade OMIGOSH, this one got me. I couldn't stop crying. Amitabh Bachchan is a living legend. I actually was telling my sisters that he was the one playing Auro and they didn't believe me even after his real life wife introduced him at the beginning of the film. Yes, Big B is that good in his essaying the role of a tragic little boy suffering from progeria(a rare disease that speeds up the aging process). Abhishek Bachchan(Big B's real life son) was decent in the scenes in which he didn't have to share with his real life father and Vidya Balan has proved yet again that she is the power house actress we suspected she was when we first met her in 'Parineeta', Paresh Rawal (who co-stars) is given very little to do but handles his scenes very well as Amol's(Junior Bachchan) father.

ALLY HASSAN ALI This is the best movie of the year till now. The storyline lies in the life of a child suffering from this rare disease and his life span a rather short one of only 13 yrs suffering from Progeria, a very rare genetic disease which make a child to age very rapidly. Amitabh Bachchan (Introducing) yet at his best with this one, Best Acting , 10 marks for the director, Abishek has a lot to learn from his father and this is the one. Best direction, best story line up and very slow supporting actress because the true spirit of a mother was not there. yet i give 10 /10 to none other than Amitabh Bachchan for a very outstanding performance.

AishFan Paa is an extraordinary film--technically brilliant with career-topping performances and a strong, emotional story that won't let you leave the theater without shedding a few tears. I have to start out by saying that Amitabh continues to outdo himself with each and every film. One could never tell that he was not a 12 year-old boy. I become a bigger fan of his with each new movie. Abhishek also gives his best performance since Guru. Like his wife, deep-rooted Indian roles such as Refugee, Sarkar, Guru, and Paa suit him the most. The mod, macho-man, college boy, and filmi hero looks (Dhoom, Dus, Kuch Na Kaho, etc.) don't suit him at all. I also feel that this is Vidya Balan's best since Parineeta.Just goes to show that the director is a genius. He has put together the film so perfectly. Each scene is captivating and flows beautifully from one scene to the next. The strong emotions pull your heartstrings, and you are able to relate with your own life experiences in one way or another. The classical background score is lovely. The only thing I would have changed is the opening credits. Why is Jaya sitting and reading all the names?! Lol. But yes, this movie is a must-see.