English Vinglish is a 2012 Indian drama film directed by Gauri Shinde and produced by R. Balki.
The film marks the comeback of Sridevi after a 14-year sabbatical.[1][2] The film also features French actor Mehdi Nebbou, Adil Hussain, and Priya Anand. Amitabh Bachchan makes a guest appearance in the Hindi version of the film, while Ajith Kumar comes in for the same role in the Tamil version. This film also marks the comeback of Sridevi to Tamil cinema after 26 years and comeback of Sridevi to Telugu cinema after 18 years.
Sridevi plays the central role of a Pune-based Maharashtrian housewife Shashi Godbole , who enrols for an English language course in order to please her husband and family. Shinde wanted her characters to be rooted and so they decided that the family will be Marathi, which is why the film was shot in Pune. Sridevi‘s character is inspired from Gauri’s mother.
English Vinglish will be dubbed into Telugu Tamil and will release simultaneously along with the Hindi versions. English Vinglish is all set to hit the screens on 5 October 2012.
Before its official worldwide release, English Vinglish had a gala premiere at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival on 14 September, where the film and Sridevi‘s performance received a standing ovation.
English Vinglish’ – Sridevi’s grand comeback
Movie: English Vinglish
Directed by: Gauri Shinde
Produced by: Sunil Lulla, R. Balki, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, R. K. Damani
Screenplay by Gauri Shinde
Story by Gauri Shinde
Starring : Sridevi as Shashi Godbole, Priya Anand, Mehdi Nebbou as Laurent, Adil Hussain as Satish, Sujata Kumar, Cory Hibbs as David Fischer, Rajeev Ravindranathan as P Ramamurthy, Sumeet Vyas as Salman Khan, Ruth Aguilar as Eva, Damian Thomson as Udumbke, Maria Romano as Yu Son, Neelu Sodhi as Meera, Ross Nathan as Kevin, Maria Pendolino as Jennifer, Sulbha Deshpande as Mrs. Godbole, Shivansh Kotia as Sagar, Ajith Kumar – in Tamil Version, Amitabh Bachchan in Hindi version
Music by: Amit Trivedi
Cinematography: Laxman Utekar
Editing by: Hemanti Sarkar
Studio: Hope Productions, IBC Spotlight
Distributed by: Eros International, IBC Motion Pictures
Release date: 5 October 2012
Running time: 129 minutes
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.
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Today we have the most awaited film English Vinglish releasing worldwide. This is the comeback film for actress Sridevi who ruled both Kollywood andBollywood. The Hindi version has Big B doing and cameo and Tamil version has Ajith doing the cameo. Directed by Gauri Shinde this film is producedby Eros International.
Apart from this we have Sembattai directed by I.Ganesh with New faces.Puthiya Kaviyam directed by PN.Rameshkumar with Dilip kumar and Jhanavi in the lead along with a lot of new faces. Ariyan directed by P.Karthikeyan with new faces in the lead.
The emotions and desires of a middle-class woman is rarely noticed. But director Gauri Shinde has taken it in her stride to chronicle them in Englsih Vinglish. Though it is predominantly about woman who becomes a subject mater or mockery for not knowing the language, her wish to be treated with respect by her children, craving for husband’s love is what the filmmaker has tried to convey.
Not knowing a language is no handicap. It is after all a tool to express one’s likes and dislikes. Gauri Shinde has taken this as premise and woven a melo-drama that is worth a watch inEnglish Vinglish.
With Sridevi at the helm of affairs, English Vinglish proceeds at leisurely pace but has everything a movie-going audience woiuld love to see. Sridevi whi is back after 15 years on screen, proves yet again that she is a actress to reckon with. She has not lost energy or rhythm.The movie has Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand besides a sweet cameo by Ajith. Add Amit Trivedi has come up with some songs that adds momentum to the story.
Sashi (Sridevi), a middle-aged housewife, doesn’t know English. Her handicap over the language becomes the joke for her husband (Adil Hussain) and his daughter. She is forced to go to New York for a wedding. There she decides to learn the language. She joins a English speaking course. Life changes. Did she teach everyone that understanding and speaking a foriegn language is no easy task is what the climax is.
Sridevi presents a splendid show. She is at her elements giving her best. Her expressions, emotions and disappointment have added more reality to her character. Watch out for Ajith’s cameo. The punch dialogue by Ajith is awesome.
Priya Anand plays a breezy role. Her role has a part to play in the film.
Almost all other artistes have given their due. English Vinglish is simple but arresting. For Sridevi-lovers, it is a treat.
Sridevi’s pat for Ajith!!!
Veteran actress Sridevi is back in big screen with English Vinglish. The movie is all set to rock the screens on 5 October. She is back after almost 15 years.
English Vinglish was a right script for me to make a comeback. I loved it when director Gauri Shinde narrated it to me, says Sridevi.
Interestingly in the movie, in its Hindi version Amitabh does a cameo while in its Tamil version it is done by Ajith.
Check what Sridevi has to say about Ajith? ‘Ajith is a wonderful person and it was so kind of him, who is such a big star to do this cameo for south, a role that Amitabh Bachchan did in Hindi’.