Review : Parineeta

Although based on Sarat Chandra chattopadhyay’s novel of the same name, this film reminded of the old Dilip Kumar-Madhubala love-story films, where all seems to be lost, but not just yet. I haven’t read his work so am unable to tell whether Chopra sticks to the original plot. Of course it is obvious that he does take certain filmi liberties with the film, thus rendering it just a tad overdone.

 

Set in the Calcutta of 1962, the film plays out partway in flashback. It starts off with depictions of Shekhar’s wedding day, when Shekhar leaving his family-filled home, steps across the street into his neighbor’s home, meets the aging matriarch there, and reminsces…

Shekhar, the son of rich businessman Naveen Rai and his neighbors Koel, and her cousin Lolita have been friends from childhood. Lolita’s parents having expired Lolita comes to live with her uncle (Mama) Gurucharan, when she is little. The three grow up, with Lolita (Vidya) and Shekhar (Saif) developing a mutual attraction. Shekhar’s parents now look for a suitable bride for Shekhar, and overlooking Lolita, settle on Gayatri Tantiya (Diya Mirza), who seems to be a favorable alliance, since she is rich and her family can further many of Mr.Rai’s business ambitions. Shekhar, now dabbling in music as a music director, loves Lolita but afraid of offending his father meets the westernized, Anglo-Indian Gayatri.

Meanwhile, a family friend’s rich brother Girish (Dutt) comes visiting from London, and on meeting Lolita, is quite taken with her. Lolita socializes with him without any romantic notions, unwittingly stoking Shekhar’s jealousy. At work in Naveen Rai’s real-estate development office, Lolita gets wind of a secret, new Hotel project in which her uncle’s home/haveli is to be turned into a hotel ! It turns out that the haveli is mortgaged to Naveen Rai and he intends to have it.

Lolita, perturbed, asks Shekhar for a loan , but he, in his usual easygoing, careless manner, waves the matter away for later. Girish, hearing of the matter, loans Gurucharan the money on a pretext, and Gurucharan is able to save his home, still believing that Naveen Rai is a good and kind man. In anger at losing his pet project, Naveen Rai, arranges for Shekhar to be out of town on a business pretext, and while he is out, fires Lolita and abuses Gurucharan’s family. Gurucharan, because of this has a heart attack.

When Shekhar returns he finds that owing to Gurucharan’s ill-health, a quick marriage has been arranged between Lolita and Girish. He swallows his father’s stories about Girish having bought out the Gurucharan family, and in anger at being spurned, watches as Girish packs up the entire family and takes them to London for treatment of Gurucharan’s worsening condition…

Direction is excellent, and set and film-style give credence to a Calcutta of the 60’s. The story, I presume, has been stretched a bit to include filmi theatrics, especially towards the end, where the good versus evil morality holds strong sway. Dialogues are apt, except at the ending where they go over-the-top. And the music is melodious, kind of sweet and old-worldy – in keeping with the genre.

Ms. Balan makes a good debut, expressing emotions adequately, in a subtle and restrained performance. Saif, while acting fine, is slightly miscast as a yesteryear playboy – he’s still sorta in the “Dil chahta hai” mode. Sunjay Dutt as the besotted Girish, does well too. Raima Sen, as Lolita’s cousin Koel, does justice to her perky character, while Diya Mirza is visible in a fleeting few scenes, hardly enough to make an impression. The supporting cast – the parents, Rai and wife (Sabhyasachi Chakraborty and Surinder Kaur), and Gurucharan (Achyut Potdar) and wife do their job ably.

This is a good, moderately-paced, story-based entertainer. Not the urban, slick film of the modern world, this old-ish tale still keeps the viewer engrossed. Recommended.