ENGLISH VINGLISH – REVIEW
Sridevi has made a fantastic comeback to movies with the Gauri Shinde directed English Vinglish. It is as sweet as the symbolic Laddu in the film, with a neat message told with Indian emotions.
The Tamil version of the film has its drawbacks, mainly the lip sync of important characters in the film. The story as per the original Hindi version is set in a Maharashtrian family and it does not really connect with the Tamil milieu.
However the highlight of the film is Sridevi and the in the Tamil version, the icing on the cake is the special appearance of popular Kollywood actor Ajith in a three minute role which raises the bar. Gauri Shinde’s choice of Ajith as a suave international traveller is apt. He appears as a fellow traveller with Sridevi to the US and imbibes confidence in her.
Sasi (Sridevi) is a housewife and a good mother who cares for her school-going kids and is very respectful and devoted to her husband (Adil Hussain), a corporate honcho. However she is not too conversant with English and speaks it haltingly. This makes her the butt of ridicule at home with her teenage daughter, who mocks at her and makes her feel bad.
Due to certain circumstances Sasi is forced to travel alone to New York to help with preparations for her niece's wedding. In the aircraft she is helped by a suave and charming traveller (Ajith), who instils confidence in her. And in the US she meets up with her sister and family (Priya Anand) who have come up the hard way.
One day she is humiliated due to her lack of knowledge of English while struggling to order a coffee and sandwich at a Manhattan café. Sasi understands she must speak fluent English in order to regain her sense of self-worth and how she does it forms the rest of the story.
Undoubtedly the film belongs to Sridevi. She blends into her role with great agility helped also by a fabulous supporting cast. Priya Anand plays Sridevi’s niece and has done justice to her role. The students at the Learn English class including the gay tutor is a scream. There are some nice scenes which pull at your heart strings, especially the climax where Sridevi is brilliant as she come to terms with her problems.
Gauri Shinde has crafted a feel good warm movie that will stay in our hearts for a long time. Go for it!
