Movie Review: English Vinglish (2012)

Sridevi plays a middle-aged Maharashtrian housewife Shashi Godbole. Shashi may be weak at speaking English, but that doesn’t deter her from being the wonderful mother, loving wife and doting daughter-in-law. However, her husband Satish Godbole (Adil Hussain) and her daughter (played by Navika Kotia) never appreciate her efforts and are rather embarrassed of the fact that she can’t speak English. Her son Sagar (Shivansh Kotia) although does play mama’s boy-cum-khabri, snitching on his teenage sister every now and then. Shashi runs a small business from home. She makes wonderful ladoos (something which her husband takes huge pride in, albeit with a touch of contempt) and sells them around the locality.

Already saddened by the behaviour meted out to her, she has a higher mountain to climb as she has to travel all the way to New York to help out her widowed sister (played by Sujata Kumar) with her daughter Meera’s wedding. It is at New York where Shashi, who finds herself completely alienated in a country where knowing English is considered a ‘must’, realizes that she will have to fend for herself and learn the language. So, she ends up at a 4-week class where she meets people who come from completely different backgrounds (African, Spanish, French, Chinese and Pakistani), all of them with a common grievance – they don’t know English. The film traces Shashi’s journey through these 4 weeks as she learns lessons far more significant than just English!

Reviews:

Good Reviews  |  Average Reviews  |  Bad Reviews
Positive Reviews
4.5	“English Vinglish leaves you spellbound.” – Apunkachoice
4.0	“It’s amusing, emotional, heartrending and also insightful. An inspiring film with an overwhelming message.” – Bollywood Hungama
4.0	“It’s the movie to which you must take your grandmother, mother, sister, wife, sweetheart and saas.” – Times of India
4.0	“English Vinglish is a winner all the way” – Rediff
4.0	“Go watch it. It’s a lesson worth its weight in gold.” – Glamsham
4.0	“English Vinglish is among the most refreshingly novel films made in recent times.” – DNA India
4.0	“Overall the movie is a must watch. It’s a compete family entertainer.” – One India
4.0	“Gauri Shinde’s debut as a director is sure-footed and confident and Sridevi is back as if she had never been gone.” – Yahoo Movies
4.0	“English Vinglish is a complete family entertainer and worth every penny!” – Zee News
3.5	“For those who do not understand any language, to sum up this film.” – Movie Talkies
3.5	“Watch the film for sure. But don’t be disappointed by the ‘we-don’t-want-to-ruffle-any-feathers’ ending.” – Sify
3.5	“English Vinglish stands tall on the shoulders of two courageous women, Gauri Shindi and Sridevi who deliver one of the finest films of 2012. A definite watch for everyone.” – Nowrunning
3.5	“English Vinglish is a great effort at combining meaningful content with light Bollywood entertainment. Take a bow, Gauri Shinde and team!” – DNA India
3.5	“Yes, you must watch this film then, and not just because of the actor in it!” – Daily Bhaskar
3.0	“This light-hearted movie is a lovable watch for Sridevi, the direction and the music, though the forced emotional quotient might get to you.” – Koimoi
Average Reviews
2.5	“It would work strictly for those who can discount the film’s oversimplified worldview.” – NDTV Movies
2.5	“Just about okay shokay.” – Deccan Chronicles
Negative Reviews

Tagged Reviews, Sridevi