English Vinglish

Given the hype surrounding this movie, I was damn sure that I would not like it. But seriously, it’s worth every bit of praise that it has harnessed.

What a performance by Sridevi and what a role given by the director. Finally, we see a mature treatment of a traditional Indian Bahu who is sensible enough to understand what exactly is wrong with her spouse and is not so soppy as to keep forgiving him for it. Did this wow you? Wait a minute. She is the realistic mother too. She adores her kids, true dat... but not to the extent that she is blind to the atrocities they commit. 

The movie showcases the journey of Sashi, a simple homemaker with a brilliant talent for making ladoos (she was born only to make ladoos as her husband puts it). She has no knowledge of English and is constantly mocked for the fact by her family, and her life in India suddenly shifts to Manhattan where she gets her self-respect back.

I like the movie for a lot of reasons. I respect the way Sashi realizes the unconscious abuse that she is being subjected to. I like the portrayal of the actor playing the role of her husband who keeps mocking her in a way that it would be impossible for anyone to pinpoint it to him. Of course, the behavior is unintentional, but that’s exactly the point. Each and every one of us tends to take Sashi’s role as well as her husband’s in our lives, but we stay unaware of the fact.  And I totally love the fact that ignorance of the English language is not the main point but the under confidence that you develop when those near you don’t believe in you is. And all hail thee, oh director for passing on all these without preaching.

To those who think the above para is just a load of philosophical bosh, let me give one convincing reason for me to rave about this movie. The French guy. As I’m not the story writer, I wasn’t able to make Sashi divorce her husband and elope with this French dude but anyway I can live with that for now. Do such sweet guys even exist in reality? Maybe, maybe not. Oh ya and I cried during the café scene where she tries to order her lunch. Badly. But the movie made me realize a few things. Love does exist. The deep feeling when you’re completely helpless but some person who doesn’t have to help you, rescues you from the situation anyhow, that feeling of pure gratitude, and respect is what I call love.  The mutual respect and encouragement that you give to one another is what I call comradeship and it exists! I want to shout from the tallest building, ‘It exists, it exists, and it exists!!!’ And the best part is, it is by definition momentary, not permanent. So trying to make it work when you know it’s not going to is futile. 

Apart from these meta-physical outbursts of enlightenment, I did have a few disappointments. Like Sridevi’s voice! (What on earth happened to it?) Her dialogues and feeling of guilt when her son gets hurt and she blames herself. The few scenes where they try to capture the Mind Your Language magic. The fake accent of her niece. Too much stereotyping of the Tam guy.

But these are so minor that the movie is intact in my opinion and flying better than ever.

All I can say now is,

Thank you… for making me feel good about myself.