Parineeta (2005 film)

The story takes place in 1962 in Kolkata. As the credits roll, scenes from erstwhile Calcutta are displayed along with the narrator's (Amitabh Bachchan) introduction to the era.

On the night of his arranged marriage to Gayatri Tantiya, (the daughter of one of his father's business connections), Shekhar has images of his childhood friend, Lalita, calling him by his name flashing through his mind.

Meanwhile, downstairs, musical celebrations begin as Shekhar meets Vasundhara, a widow from his neighbourhood, who is thankful to her son-in-law, Girish (Sanjay Dutt), for supporting their family after the death of her husband, Gurcharan. Lalita, who is present there, playfully confronts Shekhar as to why he is being indifferent to her. Shekhar admonishes her for speaking so in spite of being married.

An angry Shekhar comes back home to play a favourite tune from the past on his piano. The flashback shows a young Shekhar playing Rabindranath Tagore’s tune on his piano while young Lalita and Koel are around. Lalita, with her parents having died in a car accident, lives with Gurcharan’s family. Koel is her cousin whereas Charu is her neighbour. As this scene flashes across Shekhar’s mind, he sings a song full of sadness and loss. As time flies, they grow up to become close friends. The rebellious and musically inclined Shekhar spends his days playing the music of Rabindranath Tagore or Elvis Presley and composing his own songs with Lalita rather than becoming part of his shrewd father's business. Part of this rebellion involves resistance to meeting Gayatri Tantiya, the beautiful but devious daughter of a wealthy industrialist, whom his father would like Shekhar to marry. Meanwhile, Girish, a steel tycoon from London, makes a dramatic entry into Charu’s house. Girish seems smitten by Lalita while Koel is by Girish. Shekhar is visibly jealous of Lalita’s close friendship with Girish.

One day, a shocked Lalita, who is employed at Rai’s office, stumbles upon a project to refurbish and sell Gurcharan’s ancestral haveli (palatial house) as hotel. On an earlier occasion, Gurcharan had borrowed money from Navin Rai after leaving his haveli as collateral to him. She understands that if the money is not repaid in a few months, Navin Rai would take over the property. She immediately thinks of asking Shekhar for monetary help. Circumstances prevent this, and Girish, upon realising this, alleviates their problem by making Gurcharan his business partner. Gurcharan repays the debt and the turn of events prompts Shekhar to think why Lalita chose to ask Girish for money instead of him. On one auspicious night, Shekhar and Lalita exchange garlands and consummate their "marriage" unbeknownst to anyone else.

While Shekhar is off to Darjeeling on a business trip, Navin Rai violently thunders at Lalita about the loss of his hotel project, embarrassing and humiliating her. Rai gets a wall built between his and Gurcharan's house symbolising the end of their association. Gurcharan, unable to digest this, suffers a heart attack. Upon Shekhar's return, Rai informs him of the ill-health of his mother and Gurcharan and then viciously poisons his mind about Lalita and indicates that Lalita married Girish for his money. Shekhar is disgusted to hear of the marriage and in his anger he hits Lalita, while humiliating her like his father had done. Meanwhile, Girish assists Gurcharan's family and takes them to London to allow for better care and treatment for Gurcharan’s heart. Gurchuran eventually dies anyway and upon the family's return from London, Shekhar assumes that Girish and Lalita are married and agrees to marry Gayatri. The film returns to the night of Shekhar's marriage when Girish hands him the ownership papers of Gurcharan's haveli. He shocks Shekhar by telling him that he married Koel because Lalita rejected his marriage proposal. As a conclusion, Shekhar confronts his father and symbolically breaks down the wall separating the two families. He then brings Lalita to his home as his bride, much to the delight of his mother.

• Sanjay Dutt as Girish Sharma. A simple and straightforward businessman who plays Lalita's moral support with warmth and compassion.
• Saif Ali Khan as Shekhar Rai. Shows a balance of love for Lalita and jealousy towards Girish. He is a passionate musician. Towards the end his utter hatred for himself transforms him into a cold and bitter person.
• Vidya Balan as Lalita. A woman of dignity with unflinching love for Shekhar. A lovely singer, who resigned to circumstances, upholding her respect when she faces insult.
• Tina Datta as Lalita in her teens.
• Raima Sen as Koel. Lalita's playful, mischievous and cheerful cousin who is lively, peppy and lives through every moment.
• Dia Mirza as Gayatri Tantiya. A devious socialite who lures for Shekhar with her charm and beauty.
• Achyut Potdar as Gurcharan.
• Sabyasachi Chakrabarty as Navinchandra Rai. Cold at heart, a shrewd and a conniving businessman who even places human values and relationships below his greed for money.
• Surinder Kaur as Rajeshwari Rai. The mother of Shekhar who scornfully watches how badly her husband treats the neighbours and gets ill.
• Kumkum Bhattacharya as Vasundhara Roy.
• Oindrila Saha as Vasundhara's daughter.
• Supriya Shukla as Sunita
• Gita Dey as Shekhar's Grandmother.
• Ninad Kamat as Ajit
• Rekha in a special appearance in the song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani"
• Rita Ganguly in a special appearance in the song "Dhinak Dhinak Dha"
• George Baker as Sir William Eckhart
• Kharaj Mukherjee as Singer in Recording Studio

Before Parineeta, Pradeep Sarkar was a well-known personality in the area of advertisements. With 17 years in mainstream advertising and 7 years of advertisement film-making and commercial cinema, he completed about 1000 commercials and 15 music videos.{{cite news |access-date=22 October 2007 |url=http://www.movietalkies.com/artists/complete-profie.asp?ArtistId=44267 |title=Pradeep Sarkar profile |publisher=movietalkies.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209062655/http://www.movietalkies.com/artists/complete-profie.asp?ArtistId=44267 |archive-date=9 December 2007 }} Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the producer, took notice of his music videos and contacted Sarkar to direct some of the music videos of the film Mission Kashmir (2000).{{cite news|access-date=20 October 2007 |first=Anuj |last=Kumar |title=A debut at 52! |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/08/18/stories/2007081851940600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104152212/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/08/18/stories/2007081851940600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2007 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |date=18 August 2007}} After carving a niche in filming music videos, Sarkar gave the thought of filming Parineeta to Chopra. There began the making of the film.

About the film's comparison with the novel, Chopra said in an interview that, as compared to its 1953 namesake film by Bimal Roy, the story was based in the year 1962. He said that it took them one and a half years to script the film, with them adding new characters and emphasizing under-represented characters from the novel.{{cite web|work=Rediff.com |access-date=22 October 2007 |first=Tanmaya Kumar |last=Nanda |title=Judge me by the highest standards |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/10chopra.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905092511/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/10chopra.htm |archive-date=5 September 2007 }}{{cite web |access-date=22 October 2007 |first=Anuj |last=Kumar |work=The Hindu |title=A maverick, period! |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005061001970400.htm&date=2005/06/10/&prd=fr& |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127161205/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005061001970400.htm&date=2005/06/10/&prd=fr& |archive-date=27 November 2007 }} In a separate interview, Chopra admitted that he was actively involved with the screenplay because the film was an adaptation of the novel. When speaking about cinematic adaptation, Chopra gave due credit to Sarkar, and Natty Subramaniam (the film's cinematographer), for providing the vintage visuals.{{cite web|access-date=20 October 2007 |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/vidhu-vinod-chopra.html |title="Small people with big egos, not for me!" – Vidhu Vinod Chopra |publisher=Indiainfo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111062515/http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/vidhu-vinod-chopra.html |archive-date=11 January 2009 }} Saif Ali Khan once said that the film was initially attempted to be made in a contemporary way. When the film's crew did not find the depiction appealing, the filming began with the 60s look.{{cite web|access-date=22 October 2007 |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/saif-ali-khan.html |title=Saif Ali Khan spills Parineeta secrets! |publisher=Indiainfo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818211313/http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/saif-ali-khan.html |archive-date=18 August 2007 }}

Chopra once cited an interesting anecdote about his belief in Sarkar's film-making abilities. He said that he never personally signed the cheques for the film's expenditure. He transferred money into Sarkar's bank account and the cheques were eventually signed by Sarkar and his spouse.

Chopra said in an interview that Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan were not the first choices for the lead roles in Parineeta. In fact, Abhishek Bachchan was being cast as Shekhar and Saif Ali Khan as Girish. However Abhishek walked out of the project and Saif readily was accepted as a replacement. This fact was corroborated by Saif in an interview when he said that even though Sarkar had faith in his abilities, Chopra was not too keen on having him.

The choice of Vidya Balan came with Sarkar's prior work experience with her in three music videos.{{cite web|access-date=23 October 2007 |first=Ronjita |last=Kulkarni |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/08vidya2.htm |title=How it began for Vidya? |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109164805/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/08vidya2.htm |archive-date= 9 November 2007 }} Chopra said that Vidya was screen-tested for six months and only then they were sure of her acting abilities. Saif once said that he was not convinced of Vidya's abilities, since Parineeta was to be her first film.{{cite web|access-date=23 October 2007 |first=Ronjita |last=Kulkarni |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/08vidya1.htm |title=Meet the new girl in Saif's life! |work=Rediff.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917041550/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/08vidya1.htm |archive-date=17 September 2007 }} He instead hoped to work with established actresses like Aishwarya Rai or Rani Mukherjee. However, after seeing Vidya portray the character of Lalita, he was thoroughly appreciative of her performance. Getting an opportunity to debut with big names from the industry along with a lovely character to portray made Vidya accept the role of Lalita.

The choice of Sanjay Dutt was because of his versatility, said Chopra in an interview. He also said that the affable nature of Sanjay was a plus during film making.

Sreelekha Mitra was approached to portray the role of Gayatri but she refused due to her pregnancy.{{Cite web |last=Goswami |first=Ranita |date=2023-03-24 |title='অনেক স্মৃতি, আমার বিয়ের দু'দিন আগেও দাদা একটা বিজ্ঞাপনের জন্য ফোন করেছিলেন' |url=https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sreelekha-mitra-write-up-on-her-memory-with-director-pradeep-sarkar-31679654441806.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Hindustantimes Bangla |language=bn |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324190944/https://bangla.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/sreelekha-mitra-write-up-on-her-memory-with-director-pradeep-sarkar-31679654441806.html |url-status=live }} The role then went to Dia Mirza who liked the script so well that she chose to play the role in spite of it being small.{{cite web|access-date=23 October 2007 |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/diya-raima.html |title=Interview – Diya Mirza and Raima sen |publisher=Indiainfo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816091013/http://movies.indiainfo.com/interview/diya-raima.html |archive-date=16 August 2007 }} Raima Sen had a similar story with her want to work with the duo of Chopra and Sarkar. The cameo of the veteran actress, Rekha was purely out of her interest in the song, "Kaisi Paheli Zindgani".

Since Sarkar knew the city of Kolkata very well, the film was primarily shot there.{{cite web|access-date=24 October 2007 |first=Rohini |last=Bhandari |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/boc/?file=story&id=5367 |title=Interview – Pradeep Sarkar |publisher=Businessofcinema.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012215827/http://www.businessofcinema.com/boc/?file=story&id=5367 |archive-date=12 October 2007}} While most of the film was made in Kolkata, a small portion was shot in Darjeeling.

To re-create the 60s era, lot of efforts were made by the producers. For instance, Chopra said that it cost them money and difficulty to procure the green coloured car which was driven by Shekhar in the film. Chopra confirmed the authenticity of the piano used in the song "Piyu Bole", and of the toy train used in the song "Kasto Mazza". About the look of the characters, Mirza said that the 60s look was well captured by the make-up artist, Vidyadar. The song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagani" was based on the tune to Louis Armstrong's "A Kiss to Build a Dream on".{{cite web |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id%3D090905092530 |title=Planet Bollywood |access-date=22 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809192446/http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=090905092530 |archive-date=9 August 2011 }}

Critics had high expectations from Parineeta's music because of the award-winning music that was provided in some of Chopra's previous films, such as 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Mission Kashmir (2000).{{cite web|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/11638/index.html |access-date=26 October 2007 |title=Music Review: Parineeta |publisher=Indiafm.com |first=Joginder |last=Tuteja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107123023/http://www.indiafm.com/movies/musicreview/11638/index.html |archive-date= 7 November 2006 }} Shantanu Moitra, Parineeta's music director composed hundreds of tunes before six of them got finalised after a year's effort. After finalizing the soundtrack, Chopra was appreciative of the musician's abilities when he said that Moitra has the potential to become another R. D. Burman, a yesteryear Bollywood music director.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2005/06/24/stories/2005062400130300.htm |access-date=26 October 2007 |title=An entertainer par excellence |work=Business Line |first=V. |last=Gangadhar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627041240/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2005/06/24/stories/2005062400130300.htm |archive-date=27 June 2007 }}

Parineeta collected over Rs 170 million in India at the end of 2005. Its overseas success was notable as well with gross collections of Rs. 36 million in the United Kingdom, Rs. 35 million in North America, and Rs 15 million in the rest of the overseas.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/overseas.htm |title=BoxOfficeIndia.com – Overseas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016061110/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/overseas.htm |archive-date=16 October 2007}}

Before its release on 10 June 2005, one preview wondered how the film would fare at the box office. Citing comparisons with the 1953 version, the preview suggested that debutant director, Sarkar's inexperience in film-making, the probable inability of debutant actress, Balan to portray Lalita's character appropriately, suitable 1960s depiction by contemporary actors and musician, Shantanu Moitra's until-then unimpressive soundtracks, could be impediments to a successful adaptation.{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://www.bollywood.com/archives/2005/06/parineeta_could.html |title=Parineeta could rekindle soft, nostalgic feelings... |first=Subhash K. |last=Jha |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808033803/http://www.bollywood.com/archives/2005/06/parineeta_could.html |archive-date=8 August 2007}}

Post-release, the same critic said "Vidhu Vinod Chopra's "Parineeta" – a remake of an old classic of the same name...(had) the love story (which) was received well by the younger generation and it went on to become the biggest hit of the year."{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://www.bollywood.com/archives/2006/10/why_is_bollywoo.html |title=Why is Bollywood obsessed with remakes |first=Arpana |last=Indo-Asian News Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105005336/http://www.bollywood.com/archives/2006/10/why_is_bollywoo.html |archive-date=5 January 2007 }} It was generally well-received by the critics,{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://planetbollywood.com/Film/Parineeta/ |title=Film Review – Parineeta |first=Alok |last=Kumar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017051411/http://planetbollywood.com/Film/Parineeta/ |archive-date=17 October 2007 }} with one of them terming the film as "...a beautiful story, beautifully told. It approximates what most of us expect, and increasingly yearn for, in vain, our cinematic experience."{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/10pari.htm |title=Parineeta is a must watch |first=Dinesh |last=Raheja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102070055/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/10pari.htm |archive-date=2 November 2007 }} A reviewer from About.com said that it is "contemporary retelling of...(an) engaging and timeless tale rich with human emotion and universal drama". The reviewer appreciates the film in most of the nuances of film making saying that this is "enhanced by a brilliant musical score, and accentuated by superb performances by Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Raima Sen, Diya Mirza and debutante Vidya Balan in the lead role of Lalita".{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://hinduism.about.com/od/moviestillsreviews/a/parineeta.htm |title=Parineeta, The Married Woman |first=Subhamoy |last=Das |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115102035/http://hinduism.about.com/od/moviestillsreviews/a/parineeta.htm |archive-date=15 January 2008 }} 3000 copies of the novella were sold within weeks of the film's release, owing to the film's good reception.{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Parineeta-the-hot-new-bestseller/articleshow/1156282.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018162517/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-06-30/news-interviews/27837778_1_novel-copies-book-sales |url-status=live |archive-date=18 October 2012 |title='Parineeta': the hot new bestseller |first=Avijit |last=Ghosh |work=The Times of India |date=30 June 2005}}

Derek Elley from Variety said "A character-driven meller that's a treat for the eyes, with performances to match, "Parineeta" is high-end Bollywood near its best". He also says that, "though the climax is still emotionally powerful, it comes over as overcooked."{{cite news|access-date=27 October 2007 |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117929519.html?categoryId=31&cs=1 |title=Parineeta: Film Review |first=Derek |last=Elley |work=Variety |date=7 February 2006}} A mixed review from Mid-Day says "Pradeep Sarkar weaves the story like magic, especially in the first half ... excelling in the detailing ... the vintage look of the film (that stood out) with authentic costumes, props and the roads of Kolkata". However, the review criticised the film's climax terming it as amateur, thereby diluting the whole film's impact.{{cite news|first=Sarita |last=Tanvar |access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2005/june/111357.htm |title=Film Review: Parineeta |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024165347/http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2005/june/111357.htm |archive-date=24 October 2007 }} Another such review came from The Hindu which begins by saying "A simple enough story, but Sarkar tells it well, with some great shots of Shekhar and Lalita together." The review eventually says "Except for the end ... where it is too much to bear."{{cite news|first=Susan |last=Muthalaly |access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/06/17/stories/2005061703310300.htm |title=Parineeta: Sensuous and crisp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107135600/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/06/17/stories/2005061703310300.htm |archive-date=7 November 2007}}

The issue of piracy cropped up when a news article published in The Indian Express exposed the dark side of the film market. Hardly into weeks of the film's release, CDs were being sold at as low as Rs. 40.{{cite news |access-date=27 October 2007 |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=135783 |title=National awards: Big B, Sarika win top honours |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014024854/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=135783 |archive-date=14 October 2007 }} Another blemish was that Soumitra Dasgupta, a writer and close associate of Sarkar alleged that the film's story had a striking resemblance to his parallel work on the novella.{{cite news|first=Bhaarati K. |last=Dubey |access-date=27 October 2007 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018162525/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-10-15/mumbai/27862155_1_film-claims-pradeep-sarkar |url-status=live |archive-date=18 October 2012 |work=The Times of India |title=Writer claims credit for Parineeta |date=15 October 2005}}

In 2005, Parineeta{{'}}s cast got a red carpet walk when it was the "World Premiere Film" at the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) weekend in Amsterdam.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/06/26/stories/2005062600120200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104152206/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/06/26/stories/2005062600120200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2007 |first=Susan |last=Muthalaly |title=Bollywood's mark on the tulip fields |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu |date=26 June 2005}} Owing to this European premiere, Sarkar said that the film had a great opening in the American and English box-offices. The film was on the UK Top Ten films for four consecutive weeks.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://chennaionline.com/film/Events/2006/06iifa.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614120451/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Events/2006/06iifa.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 June 2006 |first=R |last=Rangaraj |title=IIFA to showcase South films in Dubai }}

The film was chosen among 15 debut works for the 2006 Berlin Film Festival.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/fullstory.php?id=14122915 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715032819/http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/fullstory.php?id=14122915 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Parineeta chosen for Berlin Film Festival}}{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2006/08_pressemitteilungen_2006/08_Pressemitteilungen_2006-Detail_2782.html |title=Press Release – 20 January 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208020703/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/2006/08_pressemitteilungen_2006/08_Pressemitteilungen_2006-Detail_2782.html |archive-date= 8 February 2012 }} It received enthusiastic reception from the audience as it ran to packed houses to the Chopra's surprise. Expecting an audience of about 100 Westerners, a critic visiting the festival was surprised to see the cinema hall full and people jostling for seats even on the steps.{{cite news|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2006/parineeta-022706.html |work=Filmibeat |title=Parineeta draws rave response at Berlin Film Fest|access-date=22 December 2023|date=27 February 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231222134531/https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2006/parineeta-022706.html|archive-date=22 December 2023}}

At the 24th Annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival held in April 2006, Parineeta was the only Indian mainstream cinema to feature among 135 films from 40 countries.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://www.mnfilmarts.org/m-spiff/2006/index2.html |title=24th Annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630144802/http://www.mnfilmarts.org/m-spiff/2006/index2.html |archive-date=30 June 2007 }}

In 2006, the film featured in the Palm Springs International Film Festival,{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |url=http://128.97.165.17/showevent.asp?eventid=3995 |first=Therese |last=Hayes |title=2006 Palm Springs International Film Festival |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528223500/http://128.97.165.17/showevent.asp?eventid=3995 |archive-date=28 May 2011 }} 24th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles,{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |title=2006 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles |url=http://www.indianfilmfestival.org/line_up_release.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621182138/http://www.indianfilmfestival.org/line_up_release.html |archive-date=21 June 2007}} Helsinki Film Festival{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |title=2006 Helsinki Film Festival |url=http://2006.hiff.fi/elokuvat/elokuva.html?elokuva_id=162 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107103845/http://2006.hiff.fi/elokuvat/elokuva.html?elokuva_id=162 |archive-date=7 November 2007}} and the International Film Festival of Marrakech.{{cite news|access-date=26 October 2007 |title=6th International Film Festival of Marrakech |url=http://www.festivalmarrakech.info/Sunday-3-December-2006_a368.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211154520/http://www.festivalmarrakech.info/Sunday-3-December-2006_a368.html |archive-date=11 December 2007 }}

At the 53rd National Film Awards, Sarkar won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.

; 51st Filmfare Awards:

Won

• Best Female Debut – Vidya Balan
• R. D. Burman Award – Shantanu Moitra
• Best Choreography – Howard Rosemeyer for "Kaisi Paheli"
• Best Art Direction – Keshto Mandal, Pradeep Sarkar and Tanushree Sarkar
• Best Sound Design – Bishwadeep Chatterjee

Nominated

• Best Film – Vidhu Vinod Chopra
• Best Director – Pradeep Sarkar
• Best Actor – Saif Ali Khan
• Best Actress – Vidya Balan
• Best Supporting Actor – Sanjay Dutt
• Best Music Director – Shantanu Moitra
• Best Lyricist – Swanand Kirkire for "Piyu Bole"
• Best Male Playback Singer – Sonu Nigam for "Piyu Bole"
• Best Female Playback Singer – Shreya Ghoshal for "Piyu Bole"
• Best Female Playback Singer – Sunidhi Chauhan for "Kaisi Paheli"

The first version of the DVD version of Parineeta was released by UTV Motion Pictures on 30 October 2006. It has subtitle options in English, Arabic, Spanish, German, Italian, Malay, and French. An additional disc includes interviews with the actors and a behind the scenes look at the making of the film. It is available in 16:9 Anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, progressive 24 FPS, widescreen and NTSC format.{{cite news|access-date=20 October 2007 |url=http://store.nehaflix.com/pasdudvd.html |title=Parineeta DVD - Nehaflix.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103141135/http://store.nehaflix.com/pasdudvd.html |archive-date= 3 November 2007 }}{{cite news|access-date=20 October 2007 |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000JLSR64 |title=Parineeta DVD – Amazon.co.uk}} The film is also available on Netflix.{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/in/title/70039372|title=Parineeta|publisher=Netflix|access-date=7 August 2019|archive-date=29 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129205745/https://www.netflix.com/in/title/70039372|url-status=dead}}

The soundtrack to Parineeta was released by Tips Music in 10 April 2005. It received positive reviews, with a reviewer stating, "praising the soundtrack of Parineeta leaves you at a loss for superlatives. In each song, the trend was great singing, great composition, and great lyrics". It was later re-released by Zee Music Company in 2018. Shantanu Moitra composed the music and Lyrics were penned by Swanand Kirkire.{{cite news|title=Music Review – Parineeta |access-date=20 October 2007 |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/Music/Parineeta/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009223928/http://www.planetbollywood.com/Music/Parineeta/ |archive-date= 9 October 2007 }}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Piyu Bole

| extra1 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal

| length1 = 4:21

| title2 = Kasto Mazza

| extra2 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal

| length2 = 4:43

| title4 = Soona Man Ka Aangan

| extra4 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal

| length4 = 4:20

| title3 = Kaisi Paheli Zindagani

| extra3 = Sunidhi Chauhan

| length3 = 4:03

| title5 = Raat Hamari Toh

| extra5 = K. S. Chithra, Swanand Kirkire

| length5 = 5:19

| title6 = Dhinak Dhinak Dha

| extra6 = Rita Ganguly

| length6 = 3:53

| title7 = Hui Main Parineeta

| extra7 = Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal

| length7 = 2:23

| all_writing =

| title8 =

| length8 =

| title9 =

| length9 =

| title10 =

| length10 =

| total_length =

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{IMDb title|0437407|Parineeta}}
• [http://www.rediff.com/movies/parineeta.htm Parineeta] at Rediff.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20081225054520/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/cast/11638/index.html Parineeta] at Bollywood Hungama

{{Pradeep Sarkar}}

{{Vidhu Vinod Chopra}}

{{Vinod Chopra Films}}

{{National Film Award Best First Film of a Director}}

{{Parineeta}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2000s Hindi-language films

Category:2005 romantic drama films

Category:2005 directorial debut films

Category:2005 films

Category:Best Debut Feature Film of a Director National Film Award winners

Category:Films about women in India

Category:Films based on Indian novels

Category:Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

Category:Films set in Darjeeling

Category:Films set in Kolkata

Category:Films shot in Darjeeling

Category:Films shot in Kolkata

Category:Indian romantic drama films

Category:Films directed by Pradeep Sarkar

Category:Durga Puja in popular culture