English language is regarded to be known as 'Universal' language but the bitter truth is many are still alien to this lingo. Lack of exposure? Well, there are more than just one reason to this. But not knowing isn't sinful right. If language could decide respect, bondage, relationships, identity of a soul, we are in for surprises.With the hoopla around her much-awaited comeback and high expectations riding on the evergreen diva, Sridevi, who is back with English Vinglish after a long hiatus and how! Shashi Godbele, a middle-aged Maharastrian homemaker who has a small but successful catering business, a proficient cook who loves to feed her folks with any kind of food, more or so with her sumptuous ladoos, a dedicated wife/mother who is taken-for-granted and often ridiculed for her poor linguistic skills by her English speaking family. Yet she smiles, takes all the insult gracefully and is on the move to accomplish her family needs.
So an underestimated and belittled Shashi flies to New York to lend a helping hand at her niece's wedding. Braves to manage herself at the immigration counter, thanks to the cameo and short but sweet guidance offered by Amitabh Bachchan, she finally lands in a country where surviving alone minus the English lingo is indeed a challenge. One bad incident in a cafe and it shakes her senses up and gets this undying urge to learn the language, come what may. She enrolls herself for a crash course, manages to travel across the city, remains a committed student who hates bunking classes and just ensures the language is learnt within the stipulated time. Indian movies are incomplete without some extra spice and climaxes, the dutiful Shashi has to skip her exam for the wedding and lands up in a situation (where her folks think she is in an awkward plight) and delivers a monologue in English leaving the entire crowd astonished and applauding. The very next moment you see her 'refined' husband bowing down to his lady, an arrogant daughter awe-struck at her mother's drastic change.
Draped in elegant, khadi, cotton, silk, and crepe saris, de-glam and beautiful, vulnerable and sad, yet selfless and strong, confident and poised, the protagonist, Sri, looks a million bucks and has nailed it down effortlessly as acting is her forte.
Gauri Shinde, making her directorial debut with English Vinglish, has picked up her cast and crew smartly, has crafted it artistically without a glitch, of course taking some lessons and help from her famous husband, Balki. The music and songs of the movie are peppy and leave you soaring with confidence and boast. Movies like these can still be a run-away-success without item numbers, skin and cleavage display and obscenities. It's a feel-good movie, treat to watch which leaves one with lot of insights and introspection.
There are several reasons what made me blog about this movie, one it's a review from my side, two, there is no stopping for a woman when she aspires to be something and desires for it relentlessly. There are several notes one has to make off while watching, a world which is still presumed to be dominated by the darker sex, goes to tell a woman is not meant only for household chores and deserves equal respect and dignity on par with men. There might be many Shashis out there but not all get the opportunity to outshine themselves. Signing off with a dialogue which every women looks out for from her kith and kin:
"I don't want love, I have enough of it. All I need is respect."
3 comments: