Movie Review #3 - English Vinglish


Just finished watching English Vinglish, Sridevi's comeback movie, that released on Oct 5, 2012.

The movie was released simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil. A dubbed Telugu version was also released on the same day. The movie stars Sridevi as a protagonist. In all, the movie is a sensitive portrayal of the people who feel less confident because of their inability to speak or follow English properly.

Gauri Shinde has captured the trauma a middle class housewife undergoes who is unable to speak or converse well in English. Sridevi plays Shashi Godbole, an entrepreneur who runs a successful catering business, but is not given her due because of her inability to understand and speak English. She feels small and let down by even her teenage daughter.

Shashi is married to a suave Satish who feels at home when he is cracking jokes at her expense and does nothing to control the arrogant and snooty Sapna (the daughter). Shashi's on, Sagar, is a cute boy, sensitive for his age. The family also includes the widowed mother-in-law (Sulabha Deshpande).

Shashi tries very hard to please her family but all they can see is her weaknesses. A wedding in the family turns the situation around. Shashi's sister's daughter, Meera plans to tie the knot with a phirang, Kevin. Shashi travels to NY to attend the wedding. Shashi takes a few days to adjust to the new environment. A chance encounter with a rude Black waitress jolts Shashi totally. She also befriends an attractive Frenchman.

She joins a 4-week English language class. The movie takes the viewer through the various tribulations that Shashi has to undergo to complete her course. She passes with flying colors when she makes a stunning speech in front of her stunned family, at the wedding. The toast finally makes her snooty daughter wake up and see that her mother is not someone who could be disrespected all the time. Tears or remorse, hugs, and a suddenly insecure Indian husband, is English Vinglish for you.

For all you people who havent watched it yet, go ahead and do watch it. I rate it ****.

    

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