FILM PREVIEW: PARINEETA (2005)

Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Raima Sen and Vidya Balan
Lyrics: Swanand Kirkire
Music: Shantanu Moitra

Radio Sargam Predicted Rating: 6.5/10

The creative filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra follows the success of his comedy Munnabhai MBBS with an epic drama called ‘Parineeta – The Married Woman’. As the title suggests, the film is an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s classic novel of the early 20th century.

Ad-guru Pradeep Sarkar makes his directorial debut with this intense love saga, which revolves around four leading protagonists – Lolita, Girish, Shekhar and Koel. He has previously worked with Vinod Chopra Productions as a director of songs in ‘Mission Kashmir’ and ‘Munnabhai MBBS’.

Parineeta stars Sanjay Dutt, Saif Al Khan, Raima Sen and Vidya Balan. The model-turned-actress Vidya Balan, who makes her Bollywood debut in the film, is the famous lass from the classic Pankaj Udhas music video, ‘In Search Of Meer’. The gorgeous Diya Mirza also makes a special appearance in this fare along with Rekha who also gives her manifestation in a track, which has been picturized on the pattern of ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’.

Parineeta – The Married Woman is also making news for yesteryear’s famed toy train of the song ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’ from ‘Aradhana’. Vidhu Chopra has used this celebrated train once again for Chote Nawab (Saif Ali Khan) by beginning the shooting with this blue-blooded actor on this train that traces his mother’s footsteps after 30 years.

This story focuses on the differences of man and woman’s perception of love and commitment. Orphaned at an early age, the young Lolita (Vidya Balan) finds security from a young boy Shekhar (Saif Ali Khan). Lolita is very strong, flexible, innocent and blessed with an intuitive wisdom whereas Shekhar is flawed and victim of his own ego. Both share joys and sorrows together through childhood and adolescence. Amidst all this happening, an intense love develops between the two, which they cannot sense at all.

Girsih (Sanjay Dutt) enters the picture as a suave, lively, chivalrous and above all sensitive man, who is also a self-made person. Then there is Koel (Raima Sen) who is carefree, free-spirited young lady.

Through Grirish’s presence Shekhar and Lolita realize that there exists something between them. Their love sizzles and glitters but the twists and turns of the story spin them into a web of suspicion and misunderstandings finally tearing them apart. What follows next is an interesting love story knitted with classic dimensions.

Parineeta is co-written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the director Pradeep Sarkar. The film has Rekha Nigam for dialogues and Swanand Kirkire for the lyrics. Shantanu Moitra arranges the music, which is expected to release very soon. Other credits include choreographer Howard Rosemeyer and cinematographer N. Nataranja Subramanian.

Shot in the sleeping hills of Darjeeling and the city of joys Kolkatta, the movie will be showcased in cinemas near you early this summer.

Written By GOHER IQBAL PUNN (Bollywood Analyst)