It is kind of rarity in Bollywood to adopt classic novels and present it with the same height but Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parineeta has almost accomplished it. Parineeta echoes old times where character-driven plots delighted audiences that attempt to find meaning and mysteries of love and passion. Love stories just fail to make their impact nowadays but this is not one of them. Romance here is just not usual masala-mix repetition instead presented with a height.

Parineeta is a passion tale of Lolita (introducing Vidya Balan) and Shekhar(Saif Ali Khan). In opening scenes we see Shekhar getting married to Gayatri(Diya Mirza). We see Lolita married. Shekhar is not at all happy getting married and movie goes flashback. Lolita is an orphan who lives with her mama-mami and sister Koel(Raima Sen). Shekhar is only son of a big businessman Nabin Rai is her neighbor. Shekhar is fond of music. We watch them both grew up singing, playing, composing music together. Shekhar just can't wait to show her whenever he starts composing new note not completely though and later both complete it. This is what we just adore.

One of the things I like most there is no 'dosti' kind of drama between these two. There is closeness and distance between these two well understated. Both of them aware of their feelings on some level but haven't told even themselves yet. Their love starts to surface when they see other with someone else. This is what makes it more and more natural. Their characters are not just dreamy fools. Lolita is matured. Shekhar is grown up but flawed.

Girish(Sanjay Dutt) is London returned but simple businessman who has love-in-first sight with Lolita. Gayatri is daughter of a leading industrialist, she has a very hard crush on Shekhar from their first meeting. She says "ek baar meri isase shadi ho jaaye, I will kill him". Nabin Rai is looking forward to Shekhar-Gayatri business marriage who is afraid about Shekhar-Lolita relation. Shekhar is simmering with fury that Lolita is paying any kind of attention to Girish. Nabin Rai is only villain that adds some twists to the story. Only letdown is its climax ( Real hoot!!).

Some of the scenes are worth to mention, like symmetry of scenes when Shekhar meets Diya and Lolita is with Girish, Lolita and Shekhar completing 'Piyu bole' melody, Shekhar missing Lolita uttering lines "nahi, Tagor ki hai idiot..",Shekhar and Lolita commenting each other through Shekhar's friend.

On Technical side, sets are gorgeous. Freshness oozes through the screen that makes Parineeta delight to watch. Script is adapted from a classic novel but only thing I missed here is there are not too many those classy dialogues that might make it a great romantic drama. Those are good but not great.

In acting department, Saif's portrayal of Shekhar as a jealous lover is too good. He has proved his caliber in many of his last movies and this one is added in that list. But Vidya Balan is real highlight of Parineeta. She has given such a performance, I can't think anyone else could do the same justice to the character of Lolita. One of peak moments of Parineeta when she bursts out in tears, sobbing, confronting her love to Shekhar is awesome. Diya looks gorgeous and done her job with flair. I just loved the way she delivers her lines without taking her eyes off Shekhar for a second convincing her crush on Shekhar. Sanjay Dutt is one of the veteran actors so no doubt about him.

In one line, Parineeta is a must watch.