Film name: English Vinglish
Director : Gouri Shinde
English Vinglish is an Indian comedy- drama film released on 2012. Its direction, screen play and story were written by Gauri Shinde herself. The entire story revolving around Marathi home maker 'Shashi Godbole' (Sridevi). Usually our Indian ladies are unaware about their education and our social systems gave importance to their family role. Society makes them to feel that they are meant to run the family. So they are also unaware about their education and development. Shashi was such a lady who represent the whole Indian homemakers.
The initial part of the film shows what a woman suffers in herown family. She finds her joy in the well being of her family. She is excellent in her cooking, but nobody encouraged her talent but criticize it. Her executive husband (Adil Hussain) mocks at her saying she is born to make Laddoo. Like all other Indian husbands, he wants her to satisfy his needs. He was unaware about her happy, feelings and tastes. He mocks her because of her illitaracy in English language. Even her daughter treats her as a foolish one.
In the later stage of the film, she herself made a change to know what was happening around her. It was happened after she went to USA for attending in a marriage function, where she was helped by her niece Radha. She joined in a tuition class to learn English. She felt happy when she was in her class with diverse people who gave respect and love towards her. She regained a freedom which she lost after her marriage. Later she showed her family that she was no more inferior than others and her family accepts her talent.
This film has some similarities with the other faminist film 'Queen'. Both show how a woman treats in various sections of society and the stages of their development. One film focus on how a woman is treated by young modern man and the other stress the issues inside her family and how important is education to a woman. Both won its aim. Eventhough, 'English Vinglish' is different in some aspects. when it comes to a woman oriented issue, sexuality is highlighted. Discussions were done for strenghthening of sexulity. Women of our society is connected with other problems also. It won't be discussed either. Here, protagonist understood her weak point herself and she develps it and became the centre point in her family. She hasn't overthrown her identity and culture for achieving her goal. Woman empowerment doesn't mean to accept other culture and identity but to improve herself within her identity and strengthening it.Reverse case was happened in the film 'Queen'. Protagonist accepts another cultue which was entirely different from herown one and accepts new identity. She did it due to her fiancie's passion towards that culture. She could have to develop within her identity like shashi does in 'English Vinglish'.
" Feminism isn't about making woman stronger. Women are already stronger. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." - G.D Anderson
