English Vinglish - Movie Review

Star Cast: Sridevi.... Shashi, Amitabh Bachchan.... Cameo, Mehdi Nebbou, Adil Hussain, Priya Anand.... Shashi's Niece, Sulbha Deshpande.... Shashi's Mother in Law, Sujata Kumar.... Shashi's Sister, Navika Kotia.... Shashi's Daughter, Shivansh Kotia.... Shashi's Son
Genre: Drama
Story / Writers: Gauri Shinde
Director: Gauri Shinde
Producer: Sunil A Lulla, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, R. Balki
Music Director: Amit Trivedi
Singers: Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Trivedi, Shilpa Rao, Clinton Cerejo, Bianca Gomes, Swanand Kirkire, Neelambari Kirkire, Natalie Di Luccio
Lyricist: Swanand Kirkire
Editor: Hemanti Sarkar
Cinematography: Laxman Utekar

Read the Exclusive English Vinglish Movie Review

Shashi is an intelligent woman whose only flaw is that she can’t speak English. She is subdued and inhibited and insecure. That bit I could understand. But why she should act a bit stupid even with people who speak Hindi is beyond me. So for instance, in the plane when a Hindi speaking man (Amitabh Bachhan in an amusing cameo) sits next to her, she still stutters and speaks hesitantly which did not make sense. The sense of loneliness that one feels in a marriage, which has been reduced to a humdrum banal existence, is very well brought out. I caught myself indulging in a bit of male bashing while watching the movie!

Sridevi in her comeback has chosen smartly. Modest clothes, simple one braid hairstyle and a gentle air makes her the perfect simple housewife. However, the Sridevi spark is itching to get out and I felt that strongly. Here is someone capable of making the screen catch fire and she is not given an opportunity to do that. There was scope for at least one “letting go’ scene after she learns English, but she still keeps her light under a bushel. I wish we could have seen some part of her innate sunniness on screen. There is a scene shown in the end credits where she does a little jig while making coffee that shows the cheery side of the character’s personality once she is free of her responsibilities and on her own path. I only wish there were a few more scenes like that in the main movie.

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, and this film marks the come back of India's biggest female star...Sridevi.