Naveen
Heragu
Bollywood
and Beyond
English Vinglish
Paper
Gauri Shinde’s, “English Vinglish”
is a masterful film which deals with the plight of Indian wives and mothers, their
treatment by society and their families, and the ways in which they can empower
themselves and through which others can help along the way. By focusing on Shashi
Godbole’s interactions with her husband and children, Shinde is able to
showcase the situations which many married Indian women deal with on a day do
day basis, and how they can often be degrading and difficult to deal with.
Although, upon first viewing, the film seems as if it is focusing in the use of
English as a tool of empowerment for Indian women, that is a smaller aspect of
the movie’s message as a whole. This film takes everyday situations which occur
in Indian families throughout the world and helps better showcase a mother and
wife’s point of view. Many of us, who are of South Asian descent, have
witnessed situations similar to those presented in the movie, and thus, its
message hits close to home.
The most important message of the film
is that valuing one’s mother and wife are of utmost importance, not only to oneself,
but also to one’s wife and mother. Throughout the film, it is shown how Shashi
is brushed off by her kids and husband and even ridiculed. She puts so much
effort into rearing her children and making sure that her husband is happy,
however, other than her youngest, uncorrupted son, none of her other family
members genuinely thank her or acknowledge her efforts. Early on, it is shown how her
daughter is highly embarrassed about her mother’s inability to speak English
and at numerous times blatantly disrespects her mother and ignores her
commands. Shashi’s husband also, although in a seemingly less direct and
malicious way, degrades his wife throughout the film. Shashi herself is a meek character and holds
herself in check, often silently dealing with these comments and insults and
going about her duties as a wife and mother. The fact that she is a reserved and
shy person, however, is not only because of some inherent traits she possess,
but also because of her surroundings. Constantly being brushed off, made fun
of, and ignored does nothing to help Shashi’s sense of self-worth. Shashi is
not able to see herself as an independent individual, outside of her role as a
mother and wife, and is thus, never truly happy during the course of most of
the film. Her children and her husband do not show her that they value her and
appreciate her, other than in fleeting moments, and thus contribute to her
diminished state and her lack of self-confidence.
Through the interactions of Shashi
and her family, Shinde attempts to show that it is not only the duty of a woman
to uplift herself, but also for those closest to her to help along the way. At
one stage of the film, when Shashi calls her husband at the office, excitedly,
to talk about her excellent ladoo sales and all the compliments she received;
her husband fails to even acknowledge her happiness and acts completely
disinterested in her story. Later on in the film, when Shashi’s family arrives
to the U.S., her husband comment’s “Shashi was born to make ladoos” in front of
the whole extended family, and everyone begins to laugh, except for Shashi, who
is visibly hurt. Again, upon superficial analysis, it may seem as though these
things occur because of Shashi’s lack of mastery of the English language.
However, upon closer viewing, it becomes clear that these events, along with
many others throughout the film are meant to bring to light the inherent diminished
status of wives and mothers in many parts of Indian society. Shashi’s husband’s attitude doesn’t just stem
from the fact that Shashi does not know English, it comes from his belief that
she is just a wife and mother. Shashi’s husband does not respect her because
to him, it seems as though all she is doing is cooking food and taking care of
the family, something that is her duty. However, it is exactly this belief Shinde
attempts to point out, that is the root of the status and predicament of many Indian
wives and mothers. They are inherently looked down upon because many are not in
the work force, and many do not know fluent English, and a variety of other
reasons.
Although it is a step towards
restoring their respect and empowerment, women cannot simply uplift themselves through
entering the workforce, and learning English alone. Their families and others
close to them must help them along the way. In her emotional speech near the
end of the film, Shashi talks about how it is a family’s duty to be a reservoir
of kindness for its members and to not judge or degrade. This is true in general, but also applies more
specifically to the wife’s and mothers of India. The film proves how kindness on the part of
family and true appreciation of our wives and mothers can make Indian women’s
lives, who are in those positions, much more enjoyable, and help lift them out
of the diminished status that many are now trapped in.
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