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Thursday, March 27, 2025
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TAMIL ENGLISH VINGLISH (TAMIL)
EDITOR'S PICK
`English
Vinglish` - Sridevi`s grand comeback
Rating: ****
Sridevi may have just won the hearts of millions of middle-class Indian
housewives with her flawless performance in "English Vinglish". Every
minute spent watching the film is worth the time we`ve all been waiting to see
the actress back in action.
Sridevi plays Shashi, a middle-class homemaker with exceptionally good parenting
and laddoo-making skills. Her only purpose in life has been taking extremely
good care of her family despite being ridiculed by her own children and husband
at her poor English-speaking ability.
Along the course, Shashi gets to travel to the US for a family wedding, where
persuaded by an advertisement, she signs up for `Learn English in 4 Weeks` crash
course and what follows is best watched on screen.
The character Sridevi plays on screen is very close to the character she`s been
playing off-screen. She`s returned after 15 years doing something that she was
portrayed doing in the first half of the film. She was taking care of her own
daughters all these years to date where she`s certain that they don`t need her
support.
The language-speaking impediment was merely used as a tool to help the audience
connect with the character on a more emotional level.
This is not the story of one Shashi, but thousands like her in this country who
are subjected to daily embarrassment and looked at as an experienced hand only
in the kitchen.
Debutante director Gauri Shinde deserves what many filmmakers don`t even deserve
in today`s significantly changing Hindi cinema - a standing ovation. The biggest
difference between Gauri and other filmmakers is the fact the she didn`t expect
Sridevi to return as a star, but as an actress she`s always known and cheered
for.
Sridevi trades her glamorous yesteryear look for a mature, homely Indian look
covered in chiffon sari that will make every mother-in-law in this country look
at her `bahu` and say, why can`t you be like her. You may discard Sri`s
character as very Indian, but it isn`t because she plays someone who is blessed
with the ability to enjoy life`s smallest triumphs. This is the same quality
that makes everyone root for her at every step.
Shinde-Sridevi tag team may very well be the best we`ve had in years and one can
proudly vouch for that after watching the film.
The relationship between Shashi and Satish, her husband, is handled deftly by
Gauri, as she succeeds in portraying a typical `I`m the king of the family` type
of role. The way Satish distances from Shashi without making it look obvious is
a brilliantly handled role by Adil Husain.
The depth of their relationship is brought forth when Shashi asks him: "If
you can casually hug your friend in a mall, then why I don`t get to be hugged
even when we are close to each other".
Gauri should also be appreciated for roping in two of the biggest superstars of
Indian cinema in a pivotal role, Amitabh Bachchan and Ajith Kumar.
Ajith`s cameo in the Tamil version certainly draws attention and gives his fans
every reason to enjoy the film as much as everybody else.
The film was loved equally by one and all because even after 15 years, Sridevi
has command over her language, be it Tamil, Telugu or Hindi, and she speaks with
confidence, while her shaky-shrill voice works suitably in favour of her
character.
To sum it up, "English Vinglish" proves that language is only a mode
of communication, but not something that can be used to divide people. As
brilliantly shown in one scene which has Shashi venting heatedly in Tamil to
Laurent, who replies in French, it isn`t about language.
Money,
Fame and the Knowledge of English. In India, these 3 factors play a huge role in
how society judges an individual.
English Vinglish is the story of a woman who does not know English and is made
to feel insecure by her family and society at large. The film is a light
-hearted yet touching and transformational journey of Shashi. Circumstances make
her determined to overcome this insecurity, master the language, teach the world
a lesson on the way to becoming a self assured and confident woman.
The film is shot mostly in New York and captures the inherent struggle of many
people all over the world with the English Language. Hilarious, touching,
sensitive, this film marks the come back of India’s biggest female star…Sridevi.
Written and Directed by Gauri Shinde. Produced by R. Balki
