English Vinglish: Self empowerment of woman

English, the colonial language, today is not just a language used to determine our well being, but sadly something that defines our status as well. The language, with all its richness and nuances, is used by people, to deride those who have less knowledge of it. How sad! A country of more than 600 hundred languages, some of whom are richer than English in terms of flow and expressions, seems to have grown to be a slave to English.

Director: Gauri Shinde

Film Clip

The language English seems to be the major focus of the film English Vinglish. Here is a typical Indian traditional woman, who for some reasons, is deprived of English education, and who has to continuously suffer subtle insults and sarcastic comments from her own people, just because she has no knowledge of English. Even a well meaning husband and the little ‘modern’ daughter of a convent school do not realise that they are being insensitive. Or is it taken for granted that a housewife is condemned to be just that – a traditional woman who speaks the local language, who cooks food on time and serves the needs of the family?

In any case, this housewife has realised that if someone has to bring her salvation it is she herself. And there is no other way than learning some English – for whatever it is worth! Thus when she goes to the United States for the marriage of her niece, she joins a four week English speaking course and comes out with flying colours for her standards and through this succeeds to educate some people who matter.

What does this brilliantly woven lighter, yet sensitive film try to convey? It has a powerful message to the patriarchal society, most of which still thinks that women must be housewives and just take care of the family. It conveys the message that even a housewife has her dignity which is due to her and the family must make sure that she gets it. But more than anything else, the film tries to communicate that no one can liberate a woman except herself.

What has made the film exceptional, apart from the theme, is the brilliant sensitive rendering of a housewife by the versatile Sridevi. She has personified the garb of an Indian mother. Your heart goes out for her as she struggles and works hard towards success. This is a film, not just for all women, but for all ‘well meaning’ men as well!!

- Melwyn Pinto SJ

August Rush: Finding music all around

“Music is all around us. We have to just listen,” says the little boy August Rush in the film with the same title. How true! Think of it; the whole universe is abuzz with music of varied kind. The sounds around us can be noise for some, but music for others. In the silent night, the whirring bees and insects can be irritating for some while melodious to others. The roaring sea is frightening to some and an undulating instrument of supreme music to others. The whole universe is full of music – only to those who have the patience to listen.

Director: Kirsten Sheridan

Film Clip

August Rush seems to convey this message to the audience. It is a film about a family of three separated due to difficult circumstance, but now searching for each other. What is common to the trio and what unites them at the end is music. The little boy, now known as August Rush, is a child prodigy for whom music has come by the fact of birth itself. He has learnt and mastered the musical notes not through human intervention but by his sheer vibrating ability with the world outside. He has mastered the art of converting the ‘noise’ outside into melodious scores within.  And, of course, music helps him in his search and he is not keen on converting his rare talent into a business. He is sure that his search for his parents would not be wasted. 

The film, as expected, is a musical and the songs and the unique ensemble compositions take you to a world of melody throughout. Full points to the protagonist - Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Music itself seems to be a character in the film as it plays as a uniting factor.

 - Melwyn Pinto SJ