{mosimage}Parineeta is a timeless tale written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, better known as the author of Devdas. This novel has been remade as movie already two times with legendary Meena Kumari and Moushmi Chatterjee reprising the lead roles in those versions. Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Pradeep Sarkar had adapted this novel for the third time, shifting the mileu to early sixties against the original in the beginning of last century. Parineeta happens to be one of the under-rated novels of Sarat Chandra and when it comes to the capable hands like of Pradeep Sarkar, it ends up becoming a classic. Debutante Vidya Balan who happens to be the Pradeep Sarkar's beloved protegee takes up the center stage in the latest version.
This is a simple tale comprising of elements like love, treachery, betrayal and sacrifice that will melt down in your heart with the experience lingering for a long. Lalitha and Shekar, the protagonists of this story are childhood buddies who grew up together, somewhere with the love untold or unrealised but understood. Navin Babu, the shrewd business man and father of Shekar had his cunning eyes set on the property of Gurusharan, uncle of Lalitha, who brought up her after her parent's demise. Knowing the unhonourable intentions of Navin Babu, Lalitha somehow manages to thwart it with the help of another friend Gireesh Sharma. Frustrated Navin Babu poisons his son's mind against the innocent girl and the lovers separate. How they manage to come together is the rest of climax.
There are many similarities between Devdas and this novel especially in the upper class Bengali mileu, arrogant fathers, childhood love and poor heroines. The similiarity extends to the loveable girls who are dignified in their behaviours and stand against the accusations only to emerge as winners, weak kneed male proatgonist, but the incidents are different here.
{mosimage}The best part of this adaptation is that this screenplay is a perfect mix of sweet incidents and lesser but effective melodrama. Many commented that the climax was dramatic and loud, but that only works. Not a single excessive scene was placed to elongate the movie or build up the character. Every scene is vital on its own. The mileu is set in the time period of early sixties when the modernisation of India was evolving. So in a way you find the characters, the way they speak and behave very much contemporary.
{mosimage}Speaking of performances, this movie simply belongs to Vidya Balan. This Palakkad girl is a delight to watch on screen. The scene where Sanjay Dutt bails out her uncle out of his debts and Vidya sees Sanjay Dutt with a gratitude, happiness and a visual relief with her expressions conveying more than what thousand page dialogues could not do, is the testimony of this girls acting calibre. She was convincingly as a Bengali belle, yet notice those Kerala roots in the Soona mann kaa angan song.
Raima sen as sister of Vidya was simply amazing. She is another face to watch for. I loved her immensely in the playing card scenes, especialy the way she says Tho... tho... (If..)Saif Ali Khan as Shekar proves that acting is his genes and needs a creative genius like Pradeep Sarkar to hone his skills. Sanjay Dutt looks too old for his role, but has a gracious screen presence. Supporting cast by Surinder Kaur as Shekar;s mother and Supriya Shukla as Sunitha Bhabi deserve a special mention. Infact casting is the best part of this movie with unusual casting like a new comer Vidya Balan playing the role carried off by a legendary actress like Meena Kumari, urban Saif Ali Khan playing a period movie and Rekha popping up for a surprising guest appearance, which ultimately had paid off handsomely.
The technical team composed of talented technicians making their debut like cinematographer N. Natarajan Subramanium, composer Shantanu Moitra and art director Tanushree Sarkar. Coupling the creative perspective of Natarajan's camera work and Tanushree Sarkars artistic wizardry, Pradeep makes this movie visually appealing. Every minute details had been taken care of in the process.
{mosimage}Musical score by Shantanu Moitra soothes your ears with the melodies that reinforces you with the fact that melody still finds takers. I loved all the songs but top pick goes to 'Piyu Bole...." and "Soona Mann Ka Aangan...".Chitra and Shreya Ghosal grace this album with their voices. Background score by Sachin K. Sanghvi derives a lot from Vidhu Vinod Chopra's earlier movie 1942 - A Love Story. Lyrics by Swanand Kirkire is literary rich. Dialogies by Rekha Nigham and Vidhu Vinod Chopra are nice that it is very much contemporary, not mouthing heavy duty dialogues in the name of a period movie. Editing by Hemanti Sarkar is fine that I found this movie very crisp. You dont feel it sagging or dragging at any time. Literally I am watching it everyday, that proves it. The movie was kept well intact.
I copied the VCD after seeing it adding it to my VCD library. I am sure that this movie will provide a refreshing and quality entertainment even for those who watch movies for entertainment alone. Those who havent seen it, I reccommend you should watch it and you will surely feel glad for doing so.
There are many similarities between Devdas and this novel especially in the upper class Bengali mileu, arrogant fathers, childhood love and poor heroines. The similiarity extends to the loveable girls who are dignified in their behaviours and stand against the accusations only to emerge as winners, weak kneed male proatgonist, but the incidents are different here.
{mosimage}The best part of this adaptation is that this screenplay is a perfect mix of sweet incidents and lesser but effective melodrama. Many commented that the climax was dramatic and loud, but that only works. Not a single excessive scene was placed to elongate the movie or build up the character. Every scene is vital on its own. The mileu is set in the time period of early sixties when the modernisation of India was evolving. So in a way you find the characters, the way they speak and behave very much contemporary.
{mosimage}Speaking of performances, this movie simply belongs to Vidya Balan. This Palakkad girl is a delight to watch on screen. The scene where Sanjay Dutt bails out her uncle out of his debts and Vidya sees Sanjay Dutt with a gratitude, happiness and a visual relief with her expressions conveying more than what thousand page dialogues could not do, is the testimony of this girls acting calibre. She was convincingly as a Bengali belle, yet notice those Kerala roots in the Soona mann kaa angan song.
Raima sen as sister of Vidya was simply amazing. She is another face to watch for. I loved her immensely in the playing card scenes, especialy the way she says Tho... tho... (If..)Saif Ali Khan as Shekar proves that acting is his genes and needs a creative genius like Pradeep Sarkar to hone his skills. Sanjay Dutt looks too old for his role, but has a gracious screen presence. Supporting cast by Surinder Kaur as Shekar;s mother and Supriya Shukla as Sunitha Bhabi deserve a special mention. Infact casting is the best part of this movie with unusual casting like a new comer Vidya Balan playing the role carried off by a legendary actress like Meena Kumari, urban Saif Ali Khan playing a period movie and Rekha popping up for a surprising guest appearance, which ultimately had paid off handsomely.
The technical team composed of talented technicians making their debut like cinematographer N. Natarajan Subramanium, composer Shantanu Moitra and art director Tanushree Sarkar. Coupling the creative perspective of Natarajan's camera work and Tanushree Sarkars artistic wizardry, Pradeep makes this movie visually appealing. Every minute details had been taken care of in the process.
{mosimage}Musical score by Shantanu Moitra soothes your ears with the melodies that reinforces you with the fact that melody still finds takers. I loved all the songs but top pick goes to 'Piyu Bole...." and "Soona Mann Ka Aangan...".Chitra and Shreya Ghosal grace this album with their voices. Background score by Sachin K. Sanghvi derives a lot from Vidhu Vinod Chopra's earlier movie 1942 - A Love Story. Lyrics by Swanand Kirkire is literary rich. Dialogies by Rekha Nigham and Vidhu Vinod Chopra are nice that it is very much contemporary, not mouthing heavy duty dialogues in the name of a period movie. Editing by Hemanti Sarkar is fine that I found this movie very crisp. You dont feel it sagging or dragging at any time. Literally I am watching it everyday, that proves it. The movie was kept well intact.
I copied the VCD after seeing it adding it to my VCD library. I am sure that this movie will provide a refreshing and quality entertainment even for those who watch movies for entertainment alone. Those who havent seen it, I reccommend you should watch it and you will surely feel glad for doing so.
