Hoichoi’s upcoming original series Parineeta, based on the novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, will be presented as the second offering of the streaming platform’s Best of Bengal series. A romance that also highlights and addresses the social issues prevalent in pre-Independence India, the series, directed by Aditi Roy, will be streamed on August 15.

The official teaser of Parineeta provides a glimpse of the leading duo of Debchandrima Singha Roy and Gaurav Chakrabarty, who will portray the roles of Lalita and Shekhar. Both actors are paired well with each other and share a sweet, innocent chemistry. Their budding romance is depicted sensitively and so is their separation. Their dialogues, spoken in a mild, soft and gentle manner, add more intensity to their unspoken love for each other. The time period of the story is also shown beautifully in the series’ production design, props and costumes, at the same time capturing the turmoil of the freedom movement, particularly the Partition of Bengal.

Hordes of people walking down the streets chanting Vande Mataram while others run for cover as riots break out, are powerful images that point to the makers’ emphasis on historical accuracy and verisimilitude. The parting of ways of the soul-connected lovers also serves as a poignant symbol of the painful separation of Bengalis based on their religion.

A well-known story, which has already been adapted for the screen many times, most recently in the 2005 Bollywood blockbuster starring Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan, the minute-long teaser subtly highlights the various stages of Shekhar and Lalita’s romance, till they finally unite as husband and wife. However, unlike its Bollywood version, which placed the story in a more modern context, the characters in Hoichoi’s Parineeta are more grounded and deglamorised as compared to their counterparts in that film. The scene of the dolls’ wedding, a profoundly significant chapter in the novel, also finds place in the teaser.

The Parineeta poster, which was unveiled recently, exudes an aura of timeless romance. It brings to life the poignant tale of Lalita and Shekhar, whose love story is fraught with deep-seated emotions, jealousy, and the complexities of their profound bond.