PARINEETA was a welcome surprise! The recreation of '60s Calcutta must have been painstaking- I would choose it over the lavish Devdas anyday!!- as are the lovely performances-including the lovely debutant Vidya Balan(is that her real name also??)along with Saif(he continues to surprise us!!!) and almost all the supporting cast. Also, the music is very much in sync with the flow of the story and aids rather than marring the pace. (Saif must have taken piano lessons, wanna bet?!?) The direction is really top-class and you start feeling the bengali touch rightaway. I was halfway thinking in terms of a possible oscar nomination when the overly melodramatic and hackneyed end presented itself. All-in-all a valiant effort that needs to be appreciated-VIVE LA GOOD CINEMA!!!
