Friday Release: Housewife Shashi Godbole struggles with ‘English Vinglish’
Gauri Shinde, the director of ‘English Vinglish’ shot the film in Pune to give an authentic feel to it. Sridevi is returning to Hindi films after 15 years, and to Tamil films after 26 years as the film is also releasing in Tamil.
Sridevi is playing a Marathi housewife Shashi Godbole in the film who takes up the challenge of learning English in order to please her husband. The character of Shashi Godbole is said to be based on Gauri Shinde’s mother. The film brings out the complexities of learning a new language at a ripe age.
When the first promo of ‘English Vinglish’ released, it didn’t create much buzz but slowly and steadily the film started to influence the audiences. Songs start playing on TV, new promos came out, and a feel good factor about the film attracted the potential viewers, but that one thing which fetched everyone’s attention was the stunning beauty of Sridevi. She was not looking much older than when she left Bollywood after ‘Judaai’ in 1997.
Sridevi ruled the world of Hindi cinema during late 1980s and early 90s. She and Madhuri Dixit were the choice of every big budget filmmaker in that era.
With this film, Sridevi will also barge into the world of superstar Bollywood heroes who have kept their stardom intact despite being over 45.
Heroines are normally not featured in important roles in Bollywood after a certain age but Sridevi and Madhuri are breaking that stereotype. They have preserved their good looks and are still appear very fit to play the leading ladies. Physical fitness is one of the chief reasons of their male counterparts’ success.
‘English Vinglish’ will also feature the French actor Mehdi Nebbou. Adil Hussain and Priya Anand will also be seen in the film. ‘English Vinglish’ is important for Amitabh Bachchan too, who is doing a cameo in the film. This will be Big B’s first film with Sridevi in last 20 years, they were last seen together in 1992 film ‘Khuda Gawah’.
As a film enthusiast, one would love to see Sridevi’s charm intact even after so many years. Let’s hope ‘English Vinglish’ fulfils our hopes.
