This movie is just loosely based on the original story, with quite a bit of changes, and not really for the best. The closest what I have seen to the original is the Bengali version, of 1969, starring the legendary Soumitra in the lead role, with Mousumi as Lalita. If one gets a chance, one should watch that, just to compare. The sweetness of the story is lost in this version, which the 1969 retained. That was surprising, considering the director, Bimal Roy, was Bengali as was the producer/ hero, Ashok. Probably the over dramatisation was done to cater to the 'audience' and that spoiled the taste, quite a bit. Of course I won't say the 1969 version too did total justice to the original novel, especially with regards to the Male role (of Shekhar), who was weak. But still one would not notice that aberration, unless one has read the novel. The difference was masked by creating circumstances, so that it was not necessary to be weak.
Review of Parineeta
