Gauri Shinde

Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish is a film that has opened linguistic doors in its scriptural context by showing the protagonist overcoming her inhibitions regarding the English language. But the film seems to be crossing the language barrier beyond the screenplay. We now hear <em>English Vinglish</em> is being dubbed into German and released in the country next month.

The Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitivity, scheduled to be held on 5 February (2013) at the NCPA (Mumbai), will honour Indian cinema's most revered costume designer, Bhanu Athaiya with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Speaking fluent English is not only a big deal for a Maharashtrian housewife as shown in Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish. The film’s message of overcoming a linguistic barrier has gripped Bihar’s college-going Dalit girls who are rooting for Sridevi in <em>English Vinglish</em> in the way cricket lovers cheered Aamir Khan in <em>Lagaan</em>. Girls en masse from various colleges in Patna and neighboring towns of Bihar have watched the film and are motivated into improving their spoken English.

Everyone at the premiere of Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish was gifted a box of <em>laddoos</em>. Some stars (we won’t name them) were even seen secretly tucking into the yummy box. After <em>Barfi</em> it’s <em>laddoo</em>. Looks like the <em>mithai</em> business in India never had it so good. Just a few back Anurag Basu’s film <em>Barfi</em> saw an escalation in the popularity of the sweetmeat by the name. Now it’s <em>laddoos</em>.