Paa

Bollywood mega-star Amitabh Bachchan pays homage to Robin Williams (‘Jack’) and not Brad Pitt (‘Benjamin Button’) by ageing progressively in this curious tear-jerker. Vidya (Balan) falls pregnant; her boyfriend Amol (Abhishek Bachchan) suggests an abortion. She gets rid of him instead and raises her son Auro (Bachchan snr), who suffers from progeria (‘accelerated ageing’). Will Auro survive to know his Pa and reunite his parents? Forget about the disease: this is a vanity vehicle designed to showcase the Big B’s versatility. Bachchan snr rises to the occasion giving his most moving, funny and credible performance since ‘Black’ (2005). Pity then that an unnecessary political subplot is included as sharper focus on the central theme of loss and regret would have resulted in greater emotional depth.