Prosthetics & Bollywood

Old on....thats Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan!! Yes, these famous faces are virtually unrecognizable under mounds of makeup and prosthetics. Off late Bollywood isn't only going thru a change with the variety of movies its churning out but also it is literally changing the way our stars look. Thanks to globalization of artists and cutting edge special effects which provide for these unconventional looks.

Forty Four year old Aamir's stunned everyone when he appeared in a Tata Sky digital TV Ad playing an old (70+) sardarji. This came right after another commercial where he plays both a husband and wife discussing who should be watching TV.

Anyone who has seen R.Balki's movie "Paa" would have had a hard time believing that the 12-year old protagonist Auro who suffers from a rare age-accelerating disease Progeria is played by Amitabh Bachachan. With the help of Hollywood makeup artists the 68-year old vetran actor essayed the character a 12 year old boy who looks 65!. The look created waves in Bollywood and definitely set a new standard.

As the saying goes whatever anyone in Bollywood can do SRK can do better! The King Khan Shahrukh Khan who is going strong at 44 recently dawned the look of a 75-year old man for a TV Commercial for Dish TV where he is seen romancing actress Tanvi Azmi. This is not the first time Shahrukh has been made to look old for a character as many would remember the movie Veer Zara where he played Veer Pratap Singh.

These collaborations definitely keep the audience looking forward to path breaking performances as their favorite stars down new avatars.

Review: Paa

Verdict: Great

"K" Rating: 4 /5
Watch: Theater/DVD

Rarely does one across a heartwarming story like Paa. The protagonist Auro is a 12-year old who suffers with a rare genetic disorder Progeria, which makes him age 5 times faster. Its an encaptivating journey into the the world of happy go lucky Auro who by chance meets his politician father and ends up reuniting his parents. Even though the movie has been pitched as a "father-son" story the mother-son relationship works even better. R.Balki (director of Cheeni kam) should be applauded for tactfully making a happy, enrapturing film filled with plenty of tongue in cheek humor even with a terminal disease backdrop.

Five minutes into the movie one fogets that Auro's character is actually essayed by Amitabh Bachchan with mounds of makeup and prosthetics.Paa is a new chapter for Abhishek Bachchan who looks fantastic with his clean shaven, understated yet ambitious young politician avatar. Vidaya Balan is her usual best in her spirited and traditional looking role. Illaiyaraja's music is a breath of fresh air "Mudi Mudi Ittefaq se" ( which has about 3 versions) is good.

Paa is not without its share of hiccups namely an unnecessary lecture on media responsibility, Auro's ultra smart friends or the very filmy drama towards the end. However these are greatly overshadowed by the innocence of the characters and a beautiful storyline. Scenes like when Auro finds out he is born out of wedlock and learns the identity of his father, his dilemma on revealing this information to the man himself are pulchritudinous! This movie is definately not Jack or Curious case of Benjamin Button but in a league of its own/

Initially for some audience sections the promos and the media hype of the movie did not spark interest however with word of mouth publicity this movie is sure to catch on!

Nation in Solidarity 26/11: Shahrukh Khan

"Terrorism has no religion" said Shahrukh Khan as he spoke at the Nation in Solidarity against Terror event in New Delhi. It marked the 1-year anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks with the backdrop of India Gate and the Amar Jawan Joti. SRK was joined by eminent personalities from fields of arts, literature, politics and the youth to give the message that terror has no religion. Our solidarity, courage and resoluteness are the answer to the threat of terror." Actress Nandita Das gives a befitting introduction to SRK talking about his grandfather. Earlier this week Shahrukh was seen at Marine Lines, Mumbai penning his message on the Memory Wall for the martyrs.