Real ‘Paa’ brothers want to meet reel ‘Paa’
Even as Amitabh Bachchan-starrer ‘Paa’, a movie about a progeria-struck child, hit the theatres on Friday, real life progeric brothers — Ekramul Hussain and Ali Hussain — in Bihar have just one desire: Meet Big B and son Abhishek to thank them for taking up their cause.
The brothers, living in Dumri village under Saran district, know their lives are short-lived, but they are extremely happy that someone of Amitabh’s stature had depicted their role on the silver screen. “I want to meet Amitji and Abhishek and thank them. At least, they thought it prudent to make a movie on our lives,” said the elder of the two - Ekramul. Though just 22-year-old, he resembles the character played by Big B in ‘Paa’.
Children afflicted with this rare disease manifest symptoms resembling aspects of ageing. It has a very low incidence with one out of 80 million kids struck with it. According to one estimate, there are only 48 progeric struck patients in the world. And Ekramul’s family is arguably the only family in India afflicted with this syndrome.
The two brothers have prolonged head, outpouring eyes and teeth, and are bald. The wrinkles make them look like any elderly citizens, even though Ali is just 11-year-old.
“I know that even though Ekramul is just 22, he looks like an old man and can die any time,” said their mother Razia, who has already lost her four children earlier. Razia’s husband Samsuddin works as a private guard in Kolkata.
“What to talk of treatment, it’s difficult for me to even make two ends meet,” Razia said when asked how she manages the medical treatment as well as household expenses with the meagre income as a daily wage worker. The only wish she too nurtures is to meet Big B. “At least my children will be happy if they could somehow meet Amitabhji,” she added.
