Sweethearts Candy Blog's

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Paresh Rawal
Director: R. Balakrishnan
Rationg: ** 1/2

When a director takes a road less travelled, it means risk and challenges. Director R. Balakrishnan's "Paa" journey was difficult but he achieved what he had set out to do -- Amitabh Bachchan's not recognisable in the role of progeria patient Auro, his character is not over the top and the director has managed to convey the message about the disease without much fuss.

Auro's character is well-etched and Amitabh has certainly presented a new challenge for his colleagues by slipping under the skin of a 13-year-old with wrinkles, cataracts and no hair so convincingly. Not even once does his megastar image overshadow his character.

Big B has an author-backed role and his oneliners are the best -- if he tickles your funny bones with his comments in one scene, in the next Auro tugs at your heart strings with his emotional paradoxes.

Amitabh's make up is such that it doesn't give him much room to use his facial muscles. Despite that he conveys every emotion he is going through and as the movie progresses one feels a connect with Auro.

In the performance department both Amitabh and Vidya Balan, who plays his single mother, complement each other.

Vidya has given a power-packed performance as a woman who single-handedly raises her progeric child and try to give him a normal life -- she is never shown over concerned or fussy.

Amitabh and Abhishek's scenes together are both funny and emotional.

These are the finer points of the film.

But the film has flaws too. Abhishek is portrayed as an ambitious young politician, fine! But his media bashing spree is annoying!

Balki takes a pot shot at the media by showing that TV journalism is manipulated, but it doesn't look convincing at all. Abhishek's dialogues lack substance.

Except his sequences with naughty Auro, most of his scenes don't fit in the scheme of things.

But laudable parts of the film are P.C. Sreeram's cinematography and Ilaiyaraaja's music.

Paresh Rawal is wasted in the film. One wonders why he accepted such a role.

Jaya Bachchan is the surprise package of the film. She appears on the screen to introduce the cast and the crew.

Watch "Paa" for Amitabh and Vidya's brilliant performances.

Kareena Kapoor seems to be on a patch up spree. Recently, when Kareena was on air for an exclusive interview with a TV channel, she was unperturbed and answered every question related to her past relationship with Shahid.

When asked if they are still in contact, she answered candidly, “No, we are not in touch. Shahid and I shared a wonderful relationship in the past, the least we can do is wish each other well. At least I know I do that from my side.”

But the story doesn't end here. After wishing her ex-flame well, she is now ready to mend ties with Bachchan junior as well.

Buzz is that the two have been signed for Abbas-Mustan’s untitled film, a remake of the Hollywood film, Italian Job. The movie will also star Katrina Kaif and Neil Nitin Mukesh in lead roles.

According to a source the director duo initially approached Saif Ali Khan to star with Bebo for the role but he did not have dates and he was replaced by Abhishek Bachchan.

Both actors made their acting debut together in Refugee and have been in the industry for years but have only starred together in two films till date.

While Kareena’s manager Zahid denies that she has signed the film, a source close to Abbas Mustan says, “The directors always had Kareena in mind and now they have managed to get Katrina on board too. The film will go on the floors in April and like every Abbas Mustan film, this too will also be shot on a lavish budget at international locations. The directors are clear about who they want to cast in the film.”

The Italian Job (2003) rights are with Studio 18. CEO Sandeep Bhargava of Studio 18 says, “We have the rights of Italian Job. Abbas Mustan are working on the script and will also direct the film. The movie will go on the floors sometime next year.”