Sources in the government said that a three-member committee consisting of Principal Secretary - Finance, Secretary, Youth and Culture and State Information Commissioner recommended exemption of the movie from entertainment tax for all the cimema houses in the state.

The government’s decision has come after Big B’s AB Corp organised a special screening of the latest flick for the Chief Minister Narendra Modi in presence of superstar Bachchan at a multiplex in Gandhinagar.

Bachchan had specially come from Mumbai for screening of the movie and had appleaed the Chief Minister to exempt it from the entertainment tax in the state. Read more…

“Sachin Tendulkar called to personally compliment me on Paa,” the 68-year-old posted on his blog.

“I was waiting for him to finish his cricket matches with Sri Lanka and then invite him over to see the film at a private screening. But he beat me to it and went to a theatre and saw the film,” Amitabh added. Read more…

The veteran actor, known for his modesty, agrees that he has received immense praise for his brilliant portrayal of Auro in Paa. “Prior to Paa, it was Black and before that, Baghban,” he says, when asked to reminisce about similar feedback. Read more…

Amitabh Bachchan as Auro will now be a T20 cricket commentator for the India-Sri Lanka cricket match to be held on December 12. Amitabh will be doing the ‘expert commentary’ in the breaks between the match.

Confirming the story, Paa’s director Balki says, “Auro will be doing the expert commentary for television for the T20 match in Mohali.”

A big cricket aficionado, the challenge for Big B would be to do a cricket commentary for the first time, and that too in Auro’s soft and childish voice. A challenge that the actor is already gearing himself for.

In the meanwhile, spurred by the poignant story of Auro, Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar has announced financial aid for the two Bihari progeric brothers Eqramul and Ali Hussein. Read more…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzucFshbvN0

The overwhelming response to Amitabh Bachchan’s performance in Paa has triggered off a whole new chain of thought processes among those who are involved with the project. It is now felt that the film’s theme of age-acceleration by progeria and its muted dramatic depiction through Amitabh’s performance as Auro deserves a global platform. Consequently, an international version of Paa is now being put together.

Paa director R Balki says, “The version for a non-Indian audience will have to be edited very differently but the connectivity with Auro’s character will remain unchanged.” A lot of Abhishek’s character’s activities as a young politician will have to be edited for the international version. However, without those scenes Abhishek’s role will become shadowy. What will remain is the central conflict involving the progeric child’s search for his biological father. Read more…

The theme of progeria is obviously a huge incentive to market the film internationally. Balki reveals, “I have a friend in the US who drove down 70 miles to a theatre in Miami to see Paa yesterday and the hall was packed. But let me tell you, I’m not the first filmmaker to tackle the subject. I thought I was embarking on a revolutionary mission by making a film on progeria but when I checked on the net I discovered there were nearly 40 films on progeria across the world.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajLnVnuoccA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W1n9dbo6xA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhaqV0CaDJo

Shahrukh Khan who asked for extra passes was present with his wife Gauri and two children. Aamir Khan also graced the occasion but he did not stay long as he had to leave for somewhere else. “As Mr Bachchan had invited me, so I came to attend the premiere,” Aamir told reporters at the Imax theatre at Wadala Thursday evening. 

Akshay Kumar attended the premiere with his wife Twinkle. Hema Malini with his two daughters Esha and Aahana were present at the premiere. Vidhu Vinod Chopra was also seen during the occasion and Samajwadi Party general secretary and family friend Amar Singh attended the premiere. Read more…