English Vinglish

Having never seen a desi film in theatre before, I was confused as to whether risk watching English Vinglish.  Finally I made up my mind and got ready for the first desi movie experience in theatre. And I did not regret it. In the current age of utopian Karan Johar love stories that make no sense and the commercial flicks where a normal hero could perform supernatural stunts, English Vinglish is a new genre of family drama full of fun. And for Sridevi, it’s the right movie to make her comeback.

The storyline is very simple. Sashi (Sridevi) is a home maker who is well known for preparing delicious laddoos. She undertakes bulk orders for festivals and celebrations. Also she manages her household with ease. But her husband Satheesh (Adil Hussain) and her teenage daughter Sapna constantly criticize her since she could not speak English. Sapna feels bad to even introduce her mother to her friends just because her mother could not speak English. When Sapna insults her after the parent teachers meeting, Sridevi’s expressions are brilliant.

The story takes a turn as Sashi is sent to US to help her sister with the preparations for her daughter’s wedding. Sashi enrolls herself in a spoken English class where she meets a bunch of people who struggle through their lives in US just because they don’t know English. The spoken English sessions presided by Sir David are hilarious. Sashi’s classmates include a Tamil Software Engineer, a Pakistani cab driver, a Chinese beautician, a Mexican nanny, an angry African man and a French chef Laurent (Mehdi Nebbou).

With the encouragement from her niece Radha (Priya Anand) who comes to know about her secret English lessons, Sashi begins watching English films and works on her English meticulously. Through her passion towards learning the English language and her culinary skills, Sashi wins the hearts of everyone in her class, especially that of Laurent. His affection for Sashi is very beautifully portrayed. The English final exam and the wedding fall on the same date. Due to a certain turn of events, her appointment to attend the exam falls at stake. Does Sashi manage to take the exam and attend the wedding as well?  Which one does she choose to prove herself: her culinary skills or her English speaking skills?

Well, she does prove herself in both. Radha invites the entire class to the wedding where Sashi proposes a toast for the couple and surprises everyone with her elegant speech. She thanks Laurent for ‘making her feel good about herself’. Finally Sashi makes the people who mocked her eat their own words in a good way. The movie has a totally good feel about it.

It is so colorful and full of life with all the Indian wedding flavors. The movie is set on with a wedding background which provides a very good reason for fun and celebration throughout the movie. All the songs are good on the ears and gets the audience on their feet to dance. It feels as if you have just attended your cousin’s wedding or something when you come out of the theatre.

The screenplay is very interesting and it has a few think for yourself moments. One such example is where Sashi asks her teacher why India is not the India whereas US is called ‘the’ United States. Ajith and Amitabh Bacchan have done guest appearances in Tamil and Hindi respectively. Hats off to Gauri Shinde for having painted a lovely family drama in the name of English Vinglish. The cast is very natural in portraying an ordinary Indian family. The little boy Shivansh Kotia who plays Sagar, the son of Sashi is so bubbly and energetic. Every character in this movie has done a commendable job.

After a really long time I had a sense of happiness throughout the movie and I came out of the theatre with this infectious smile. The movie definitely had its after effects which left me happy for a whole day which of course is a good thing. If you really are a person who wants to live a two hour of desi flavored American wedding with bubbling fun and happiness, go for it! Have fun!