« Back to article

Print this article

WATCH: Sridevi's back with English Vinglish

Can I first applaud the makers of English Vinglish for shattering through hackneyed convention and giving us a Hindi movie trailer that does NOT begin with two and a half minutes of various production company logos preceding the ninety seconds of trailertime?

Thank you, Eros.

The trailer itself for Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish is innovative if a tad too long drawn out. The censor certificate comes on screen, after which a sari-clad Sridevi enters and starts struggling with reading the words on the larger-than-life certificate behind her.

It's an interesting idea, her character Shashi obviously struggling with the language, but the first bit of her 'reading' the certificate seem unfortunately fake as she looks to be reading eye-level while reading out something written on the top of the screen.

That said, it's all good fun, especially when she struggles with the word 'gauge' and wonders why the director Gauri's name isn't spelt more simply. Not to mention her dig at a Hindi film with an English name. 'Style,' the lady says, the raised-eyebrow inherent in her tone.

Plus, it's commendable idea to commit 95% of a teaser's running time just letting us hear a thick South Indian accent -- even if it is one of the most recognisable we've ever heard -- and then, when Sri finally turns around and glows at the camera, you can't help but smile. Good fun, and definite points for being clutterbreaking.