After watching English Vinglish, you will thoroughly welcome her return. At 49 years old Sridevi still has it! Gauri Shinde shines in her directorial debut. She displays a fine control of her filmmaking craft, say critics. "One needs to applaud the endeavor because films like Paan Singh Tomar, Kahaani, Vicky Donor, GOW 1 and 2, Barfi!, also last week's OMG - Oh My God! and now English Vinglish, hi-concept films all, take the unconventional route, yet enlighten and entertain, both. Sure, masala movies are great fun, but a film like English Vinglish breaks the monotony, shatters the unwritten rules of the game and scores brownie points. Cinema is rapidly changing and one can connect with viewers across the globe even without making the usual mainstream Hindi movie. English Vinglish proves it!" writes Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama. "In line with Cheeni Kum and Paa, English Vinglish is as beautifully crafted as the earlier two films. All three films deal with poignant issues, yet present them with a near perfect balance of comedy, drama and emotion. You will laugh along with the characters and you will also be emotional with them, which draws you closer to the narrative and in this case Shashi’s journey. Here full credit has
to go to Gauri Shinde, who also wrote the story and screenplay. Without being too preachy, or overdramatised, as mentioned the narrative is perfectly balanced. With only a 2 hour and 10 minute running time, the editing is crisp and credit here has to go the Hamanti Sarkar. What is quite a simple and universal concept was written and edited so well, that it provided so many extra layers to the film," says Anjum Shabbir,
BollySpice.com."Far more often, though, English Vinglish is traditional Bollywood escapism, a lightly enjoyable trifle featuring exuberant musical interludes, an extremely chaste approach to conjugal relations and extramarital temptation, and a crowdpleasing wrap-up that allows the lead character to be all she can be while still respecting family values," writes Joe Leydon,
Variety.com.
Sridevi back with a bang: "English Vinglish is unimaginable without Sridevi. Correspondingly, I don't think Sridevi could've got a more cohesive script to return to movies. This is unlike what the actress has done in the past. Think of Sridevi and you recall films Like Himmatwala, Chaalbaaz, Nagina, Mr. India, Chandni, Lamhe, Khuda Gawah, Laadla and Judaai. But the supremely talented actress also has non-glam roles like the one in Sadma to her credit. She returns to the big screen in a role that's sans the frills, spectacle and theatrics and yet wins hearts. She's stellar, in terrific form, immersing herself in this character, playing her age… so much so that after a point you forget you're watching someone who has immortalized so many characters. What you carry home, and in your heart, is Shashi, a woman who
is snubbed by her children and husband on various occasions for her lack of English-language skills, but overpowers her apprehensions and insecurities and emerges triumphant eventually," says Adarsh. "After a 15 year hiatus and still remembered fondly for her last powerful performance in Judaai opposite Anil Kapoor and Urmila Matondkar, Sridevi ruled the late 80s and early 90s. After watching English Vinglish, you will thoroughly welcome her return. At 49 years old Sridevi still has it! Unlike her on and off screen, glamorous avatar, here she is presented as a simple down to earth mother. Her portrayal of Sashi is sensitive and uplifting, with Sridevi really managing to get under the skin of the character. Not once do you associate her with any of her previous roles or persona. As far as comebacks go, in comparison to Madhuri Dixit’s comeback (Aaja Nachle) and Karishma Kapoor (Dangerous Ishhq), this is by far the best
comeback vehicle – an author backed role, in a beautifully crafted film, which not only does justice to the actress herself, but also her fans," feels Shabbir. "Disarmingly charming in a manner that recalls Audrey Hepburn, Sridevi plays Shashi, a thirtysomething Pune wife and mom whose culinary expertise and other homemaking skills are routinely taken for granted by her husband and two children. Worse, her spouse and kids repeatedly tease her about her inability (or unwillingness) to master English, which they see as yet another sign of her tradition-bound mindset," says Leydon.
Other performances: "French actor Mehdi Nebbou is just right. Even when he's speaking in French, the expression that he conveys says it all and that is the hallmark of a fine actor. However, when he speaks in French, subtitles in English were essential for the viewer to decipher or decode and would have adjoined considerable value to those
simply extremely significant sequences. Amitabh Bachchan is fantastic in a cameo. Wish there was more of this legendary actor! Navika Kotia, enacting the role of the daughter, is first-rate, but it is the child actor, Shivansh Kotia, Sridevi's son, who is endearing and steals your heart with his adorable antics. Sulbha Deshpande is admirable," feels Adarsh. "Sridevi's classmates, each of them, pitch in neat performances. Right from the taxi driver from Pakistan to a South Indian guy to a Mexican nanny and of course, the English teacher, everyone stands out in their respective parts," adds Adarsh.
Direction: "Gauri Shinde shines in her directorial debut. With a diploma in filmmaking from the New York Film Academy, she displays a fine control of her filmmaking craft, from the script, to drawing excellent performances from her cast, to the look and feel of the film. Unlike many of the Bollywood films
shot in New York and abroad generally, Gauri manages to capture real middle-class, immigrant, diaspora life in New York. Further, her characters and dialogues are real and unlike the cliches we have become accustomed to," says Shabbir.
Conclusion: "On the whole, English Vinglish is a remarkable motion picture. It's amusing, emotional, heartrending and also insightful. An inspiring film with an overwhelming message. A must-watch for every parent, every child. Strongly recommended!" says Adarsh. "Overall an extremely praiseworthy film. Excellent performances, especially from Sridevi. A beautifully crafted film. One for the entire family and universal audiences. Easily one of the best films of the year! To the team of English Vinglish: encore, encore!" concludes Shabbir.
Twitter Buzz: @anupamachopra: .@SrideviBKapoor is absolute magic in English Vinglish. A 15-year sabbatical but not a trace of rust. Welcome back!
@AnupamPkher: English Vinglish is Spectacularly Beautiful. Film with a Golden Heart. Take a bow Gauri Shinde.Sridevi, ORIGINAL QUEEN OF CINEMA is BACK.:)
@AniGuha: Day packed with movies. Now watching: ENGLISH VINGLISH. Then, PVR Director's Rare film PAIRON TALLE. And later in the day, CHITTAGONG.
@BhawanaSomaaya: For more on English Vinglish wait till the
weekend for my review on 92.7 Big FM. Suno sunao life banao...
@konkonas: Have to say I'm really looking forward to watching Sridevi in her new film English Vinglish!
@shekharkapur: English Vinglish is not just a film about Sridevi learning English. It's a funny heartwarming story of a woman coming in2 her own,
MORE ON ENGLISH VINGLISH: My husband is really hyper: Sridevi, She is making her comeback in Bollywood after a gap of 15 long years, but actor Sridevi says she can’t feel the butterflies. “There is no apprehension. It’s because of all the positivity surrounding me and the praise the film received by people who have already seen it,” says the 49-year-old.
INTERVIEW INSIDE,
My best is yet to come: Sridevi: More than 265 films in her oeuvre but Sridevi, the reigning queen of the 1980s and 1990s who is back after a 15-year gap with English Vinglish, says she is yet to deliver her best. The Hawa Hawaii girl, who did scores of films in the south before making her mark in Bollywood.
SRIDEVI MAGIC,
Amitji's words of appreciation boost confidence: Sridevi, Sridevi is overwhelmed after learning about megastar Amitabh Bachchan's words of appreciation for her ready-to-release movie English Vinglish and says they boost her confidence.
READ MORE,
Salman Khan cancels shoot for Sridevi: Salman Khan doesn’t care much about attending film premieres. But the actor, who’s currently juggling two shoots — one for Bigg Boss Season 6 at ND Studios in Karjat, and the other for Dabangg 2 in Satara — recently chose to make an exception.
STORY INSIDE RGV can't wait to see Sridevi back on screen: Actress Sridevi is making her comeback to cinema with English Vinglish and it's not only her fans who are eagerly waiting for the movie, but also filmmaker Ram Goal Varma.
READ MORE:
Sridevi is a master of her
craft: Arjun Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor is already touted as the next big thing in Bollywood. But when the Ishaqzaade star is not being grilled by scribes to clear the myriad rumours surrounding his films and alleged fights with his contemporaries, he is inevitably questioned about Sridevi, his father Boney Kapoor’s second wife.
INTERVIEW INSIDE,
Sridevi, Bachchan had a Hawa Hawaii time: The Khuda Gawah (1992) couple, Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi, had a musical reunion recently, after nearly 20 years, on the sets of the quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) where the former is the host and the latter was a guest star.
MORE INSIDE,
Sridevi wants a red carpet premiere for English Vinglish: Her last release was Judaai, back in 1997. Now, 15 years later, as Sridevi returns to Bollywood with English Vinglish, she wants the best possible outing for her comeback movie. No wonder she is insisting on a glitzy premiere for the film despite inhibitions by the makers of the Gauri Shinde-directed venture.
MORE,
English Vinglish will be a winner: Hrithik Roshan: Actor Hrithik Roshan, who had shared screen space with actress Sridevi as a child artist, is full of praises for her comeback film English
Vinglish. "I have seen the promos and they look amazing.
HRITHIK SPEAKS,
Hrithik puts off flight for English Vinglish screening Actor Hrithik Roshan is such a big fan of Sridevi that he has decided to postpone his flight to attend the screening of the actress' comeback film English Vinglish on Oct 4. The actor was shooting for an ad film at Mehboob Studio when he came to meet Sridevi in her vanity van. She was busy giving interviews to the reporters for her upcoming film.
MAD ABOUT SRI,
English Vinglish soundtrack simple, sober: Evergreen beauty Sridevi is returning to the silverscreen after a hiatus of 15 years with English Vinglish. Its soundtrack covers six tracks, created by new-age master composer Amit Trivedi, with lyrics penned by Swanand Kirkire.
MUSIC REVIEW Source: Hindustan Times
Indian film industry's song and dance culture has found a fan in "Step Up Revolution" director Scott Speer, who is also impressed with Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan. "Yes, of course, anyone who is interested in dance and music will know about Indian movies. It has a lot of music and dance and colours in them," Speer told. Praising Hrithik after seeing him "Kites", the Hollywood director told, "I liked Hrithik Roshan as an actor and dancer in the Indian movie 'Kites' and have seen him dancing in 'Dhoom 2'." "Step Up Revolution" is the fourth installment of dance movie "Step Up". "With So You Think You Can Dance" star Kathryn McCormick in the lead, the movie will release July 27 in both 2D and 3D formats. It also features Ryan Guzman, Misha Gabriel and Peter Gallagher. Speer is an American music video director and has done several music videos for Mexican singer Belinda. In June 2007, he directed a three-part video series for the "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale. "I love music, it brings life in me, it inspires me and when I close my eyes and visualize music, dance is something that completes my vision. Both the entities are inseparable for me and both depict emotions in its respective ways," told Speer. 
category. Other nominations include technical categories. “The Dirty Picture” grabs 13 nominations which includes best actress, best picture, best direction, best performance in supporting role male for Emraan Hashmi and Naseeruddin Shah. Naseer has also been nominated in the best actor in a negative role category, best story, best lyrics and best playback singer male for Kamaal Khan for “Ishq Sufiyana”. Actors competing for the leading role male category include, Hrithik Roshan for ZNMD, Amitabh Bachchan for “Aarakshan”, Salman Khan for “Bodyguard”, Shahrukh Khan for “Don 2″, Ranbir Kapoor for “Rockstar” and Ajay Devgn for “Singham”. Actress nominated for the leading role female include Priyanka Chopra for “7 Khoon Maaf”, Kareena Kapoor for “Bodyguard”, Mahi Gill for “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster” and Kangana Ranaut for “Tanu Weds Manu”. Actors in the supporting role female are Parineeti Chopra for “Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl”, Swara Bhaskar for “Tanu Weds Manu”, Sonali Kulkarni for “Singham” and Divya Dutta for “Stanley Ka Dabba”. Best performance in a negative role, and the nominations are, Irrfan Khan for “7 Khoon Maaf”, Boman Irani for “Don 2″, Vidyut Jamwal for “Force” and Prakash Raj for “Singham”. Sabbas Joseph, director, Wizcraft International Entertainment said in a statement, “We at IIFA take pride in announcing the nominees for IIFA Awards 2012 which celebrate the best work done by the Indian Film Industry over the last year.” “We are thoroughly pleased with the nominees a result of the film industry’s secret ballot; and we hope the audience will make a worthy choice in deciding the winners of this year’s IIFA accolades,” he added. 
