English Vinglish - Movie Review

October 13, 2012 24 Comments

Caste: Sridevi (Shashi), Adil hussain (Satish) Mehdi Nebbou (Laurent), Sulbha Deshpande (Mother in law), Sujata Kumar (Shashi's sister), Priya Anand (Shashi's niece), Shivansh Kotia (Shashi's son), Amitabh Bachchan (Special Appearance) & Angrezi (English Vinglish)

Director: Gauri Shinde (Wife of R Balki- adman & director of Cheeni kum & Pa)

Ups: Casting & Performance of lead actors, New age Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography & Sridevi
Lows: Well nothing that I can think of, except the factor that I want more of Sridevi

Numerounity's Rating: 


This movie runs on only 3 things- Sridevi, Sridevi & Sridevi!
                                                                                          .... Numerounity!

There are movies, there are actors and then there is Sridevi!!! 

The Story
English Vinglish begins with morning of a middle class housewife Shashi, a doting mom, dutiful wife and well attached daughter in law. Her world is adorned by an indifferent husband, irritable daughter, a lovely son,   very progressive, understanding mother in law and crippled English. Result, her teenage daughter is embarrassed of her mother and makes constant dig of her "Jhazz" English  while Sridevi wonders why her husband has to hug his female colleague when they do not hug themselves.

Brilliantly essayed by a wonder actor called Sridevi, English Vinglish is a very real situation of a lot of non convent educated home makers today who struggles their worth over command of a now desi language called- Angrezi. What follows in movie may not be real but surely are the stuffs dreams are made of. 

Fate takes her on a visit to New York to her sister for helping in her niece' wedding. Ostracized and hurt, Sridevi then chooses something that a lot of her counterpart (on screen/ off screen) couldn't dare and rest is good to watch.


The actors
Actors are surely a strong point of the movie and the director does a decent job in casting, bringing fresh faces and new pairing for the protagonist. 

Sulabha Deshpande excelled as Shashi's supportive mom in law. Esp. in a scene when she measures a pair of jeans to her size, while assisting a timid Shashi buy herself some woolens for the trip. Adil Hussain does good job of an indifferent and selfish modern husband, for whom his wife is mere a cooking and an "as required" bed mate.

Sujata kumar does a good justice to her role and so does the rest of the caste including an over excited crew at "mind your language" kind of classroom setting, a gay teacher and off course Big B in his small guest appearance bring the delight factor.

Shivansh Kotia, Sridevi's teeny weeny son is adorable and cute.

The movie
It touches that raw nerve and exactly highlights a child's distance from her umbilical chord without being preachy. It’s a common phenomenon for mothers around the country.

There are lots of endearing scenes in movie like- Sridevi’s "plane jane" journey with big B on he way to Man-hat-tan truly depicts her dilemma and unease while flying for the first time.

In one particular scene where Sridevi wakes up her niece to understand the meaning of a word that a man was telling to a female again and again is also well carried. 

The climax is logical and does substantiate with the obvious purpose of movie. In short, it's a movie worth watching for.

Bloopers: Sridevi looked lesser Maharastrian and more of South Indian housewife in the film.

Music
Refreshing and light, Amit Trivedi's music is primarily used to add to the flow of movie to expedite the narrative and can be loved on a calm, relaxing day.

"Gustakh dil, dil mein mushkil, mushkjil mein dill" and "Man-hat-tan" songs truly celebrates the arrival of new age cinema. 

Verdict
Sridevi’s charm is to die for as her hand made ladoos in the film. One scene where she goes on sight seeing with family and try to give a pose for a picture- is awesome. Her portrayal of a middle class average educated housewife is awesome. She looks awesome and her sarees are awesome. Those ladoos looks awesome too. She doesn’t behaves like Sridvei but she is Shashi and Shashi has no Sridevi but Sridevi has so much Shashi in her.

The movie will find audience in Upper and middle-upper crest of society, largely at multiplexes. All said and done, this is one movie that my mom has shown interest post "Ajab prem ki gazab kahani" and am gonna take her to watch this. How about you?

The autor is half Human, half machine. Go Figure or just revel in what I write

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for the wonderful review Ekta. This one is a must see for me. Always liked Sri Devi's acting ever since her movie "Moondram Pirai" (later produced in Hindi "Sadma").

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup...she was fabulous in that movie and redefined cinema post it...Her act was brilliant and copied by many. Sridevi, truly a diva!

      Delete
  2. I want to watch this movie ... let's see when I get time !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should...Sridevi after a hiatus of 15yrs shouldn't be missed.

      Delete
  3. Nice review Ekta....heard a lot about this movie...planning to watch it next weekend :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much...MOvie is nice too...Do watch and share your feedback!

      Delete
  4. Hey there! Got your blog's link thanks to the IndiBlogger's meet :D
    Thanks for the review! MUST watch it asap.
    Followed you up! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks soooo much Peabee...Really liked your name!

      DO share your feedback with me :)

      Delete
  5. Now that sounds like a must watch movie, should catch this one in the theater soon :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure...If you r Sridevi's fan, you must not miss it :)

      Delete
  6. I liked the movie and Sridevi was at her best absolutely...
    I wished to smack her daughter, how could she laugh over her mother, the precious one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It happens...she was a teen and most of us in our teenage are like that :)

      May she is helpful in showcasing the stupidity of such acts to other girls of her age who treats their mother that way.

      Delete
  7. Nice review, a must watch.. Terrific acting by Sridevi who is also nominated for a Padmashree..
    Soothing music and beautiful backdrop throughout the movie. I like the scene where the guy in the embassy gets back a huge punch dialogue saying"The same way how u manage in our country without knowing Hindi". Saw it in Hindi waiting to watch in Tamil for the guest appearance by Ajit(Amithab bachan in Hindi).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cool...I also want to see the same in Tamil...Ajith would look a swell!

      Briallinat...loved the embassy thing too :)

      Delete
  8. She proved that old is gold.Amazing performance and a lesson in acting to heroines like katrina kaif and lara dutta.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah...well put across- Old is gold and Gold is forever!

      Sridevi' acting is flawless...there's no one like her so far.

      Delete
  9. thanks for the review ...gonna watch this weekend !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure Tangy and do share your experience...Its a splendid performance by hawa hawai!

      Delete
  10. All the reviews I have read so far including yours have been full of praise for the movie . Should watch it soon . Nice review :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jaish!

      It indeed is a superb movie and Sridevi makes it looks even good!

      Delete
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