Taste of old champagne. Review on Parineeta

Parineeta is a simple love story that has been presented with some wonderful screenplay and direction. Vidhu Vinod Chopra s effort comes as a breath of fresh air in an industry polluted with sleaze, violence and lack of creativity.

Adopted from the Bengali novel, Parineeta is the story of childhood sweethearts ( Shekhar, played by Saif Ali Khan and Lolitha, played by Vidya Balan) getting attracted to each other with the universal emotion of love ,yet widening the gap in their financial status further with improper communication and getting together again, resolving their differences. Though we have seen it and heard it all before, the director has made a celestial effort to present it in his unique style. The result shows, as the movie , set in the early fifties, captures the heart of the audience with some enterprising performance by the cast.

Vidya Balan steals the thunder from her more senior artistes – Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt. She is blessed with an expressive pair of eyes and she knows it is her strength. She seems top have struck the right balance between being expressive and not being melodramatic. This balance, coupled with her girl-next-door looks and some pretty costumes, makes her a clear winner among the performers and her acting has made the difference in this movie.

Saif comes out second best among the artistes, but manages to strike a chord with the audience with his candid expressions of jealousy, anger and his affection cum love for his childhood love. His character still leaves room for development, but Saif comes out with flying colours given the role , in this movie and it must step up his career which has been conspicuous by under valuation.

Sanjay Dutt looks out of place in the movie. He looks too old for his role as a rich bachelor and comes cropper in the few romantic scenes in the movie. The movie , which builds on childhood friendship, does not give away too many romantic opportunities and Sanjay Dutt messes up those few as well. One really wonders why on earth did the director, who seems to have got everything right about this movie, made this blunder in the choice of artist.

Diya Mirza comes up with a good performance, considering the fact that she has a very limited role and Rekha s dance is sure to trigger a debate on whether it is proper of a senior artist to settle for a song that looks like an item number.

The film is complimented with some lovely music. Music is the heart of any movie and when done well, it is like a clear stream amidst greenery. Shreya Goshal walks straight into the heart of music lovers with her pleasant voice in the song Piyu bhole. I had mentioned earlier that she is the lady who has the potential to be the next big singer after Lata in the industry. Shreya needs more opportunities, though.

Cinematography supports the movie well and the settings of 1960 s look authentic with those antique cars and costumes.

The climax, which makes the difference between a good movie and great movie , becomes an anticlimax of sorts, where Saif s symbolic breaking of his father s hold on him is portrayed by the breaking of the wall built by his father. It could have been handled better and it leaves the audience with a void.

Baring a few glitches, the movies should be commended for its appealing presentation. True, it has its flaws, but Parineeta is sure to stand out and make an impression in the heart of the viewers and is worth watching.