Saturday, October 06, 2012

Movie Review: English Vinglish

I never liked Sridevi, and when I went along for English Vinglish, it was more to do with having nothing else to do, than her comeback. I took a late night show, knowing I could always catch up on some much needed sleep!

But then there are times, when, like a wonderful bottle of wine, the old comes back and hits you in a way that you can never quite get over it! Sridevi might have been the irritating wanna-be-cute-like-the-cuties in Chaalbaaz, but as the overwhelmed non-English speaking Shashi Godbole from Pune, on her first trip to America, Sridevi puts in a smashing performance that will be remembered for a long time to come. With debutante Gauri Shinde using the canvas of beautiful New York and the vivid colors of Sridevi, the hauntingly cute Priya Anand, a fantastic supporting cast including a Frenchman, an African, a South Indian, a Chinese and a Pakistani, and a wonderful cameo by the Big B as Big B, English Vinglish tickles your funny bone, brings a tear to your eye, and a big smile and cheer in your heart, in the roller coaster of emotions.

Shashi is a homemaker. She takes care of the kids, and in her spare time, cooks her amazing food. She also runs a tiny home business - selling her much-loved boondi laddoos. But her limited knowledge of English makes her the butt of jokes (and insults) in her family - her husband, her high school daughter and younger son.

Sridevi builds out her character amazingly well - as the shy but demanding wife, the frustrated mother of a rude kid, the scared traveller in the immigration line, the conservative Indian wife in the company of a Frenchman who loves her. With an excellent script and screenplay aiding her, Sridevi performs par excellence.
When Shashi has to spend 5 weeks in the US, for the marriage of her elder sister's daughter, she is understandably worried. With her extremely limited knowledge of English, how will she cope in the land of goras? In an iconic scene in an American cafe, Shashi has to face the horror of ordering a sandwich and coffee. But when she sees an advertisement for English speaking classes, she enrolls. Along with a motley group of other wannabe English masters (reminiscent of the hugely popular Mind Your Language), she embarks on a journey that will teach her not only to speak English, but will teach her to love herself, and to find her true calling.

A word of praise for the supporting cast is due. Everyone is spot on. The two kids are completely believable. The husband (Kay Kay Menon) is also remarkable in being true to his character. The English class students are delightful, and provide a lot of entertainment. Priya Anand as Radha is smoking hot in her innocence and the girl next door look. Amitabh's cameo is fantastic! And the Frenchman - you can't stop falling in love with him. Oh those dreamy eyes :)

From my POV though, there was just one aspect of the movie which leaves a bitter taste. While Shashi's grouse with her husband is completely understandable, her anger and frustration with her school-going daughter seems over the top, unreasonable whichever way you look at it. Towards the end, her heart felt speech could have been a real toucher. Except that it is replete with bitter taunts against her family, and in any real situation like that, would have completely vitiated the happy setting of her niece's marriage - leaving everyone very uncomfortable and off-mood. Not exactly a fair thing to do.

So yes, a very good movie, great entertainment, great performances, awesome cast. But should you take your mom (especially if she doesn't understand English very well)? I wouldn't think so. Except for leaving a very bitter taste in her mouth, and making her feel even more incomplete, I don't think it would achieve much. Unless you are the type who thinks this will be a good lesson and motivator for her to take up English lessons! Remember, she won't even get half the jokes!

So go watch the movie, but hey, take your parents for OMG instead!

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