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.

“So now we know why the Padma Sri was named what it was,” we joked with Sridevi when her name was announced for the National honour. The Bollywood diva, who lately made a comeback to acting after 16 years of domesticity, laughed pleasurably and said, “It’s my good fortune that people still love me and want me on screen. The Padma Sri came as a very pleasant surprise. I am deeply honoured. I don’t know what I did to deserve it. But I must have done something right to be honoured by our government.”

Declaring that he was making a sequel of Mr. India and not its remake, Boney Kapoor has categorically ruled out having the much hated character Mogambo in the new film. In the original, Amrish Puri played the famous villain. "Obviously, there won't be a Mogambo unless we are remaking the same film. As of now, we don't have plans of remaking the same film. We are working on a sequel. If there is a sequel, Mogambo won't be there, there would be a new villain," Kapoor said while unveiling the cover of People magazine featuring his wife and actress Sridevi.

After the super success of <em>English Vinglish,</em> both Boney Kapoor and R. Balki want to do another film with Sridevi, but the actress hasn’t made up her mind yet about her next step. While Balki plans to cast the actress in a sequel to <em>English Vinglish,</em> Boney plans to produce another film that would do justice to his wife's tremendous on-screen presence.

Sridevi who recently made a stunning comeback in English Vinglish is quite kicked by the rumours of her elder daughter Jhanvi making her acting debut. Says Sridevi, “She is only 15. Give her some space to make up her mind about what she wants to do with her life. I know these days kids know their minds very soon in life. But Jhanvi is at the moment studying. I’d like her to finish formal education before she chooses her career.”

Amid much fanfare, the 14th Mumbai Film Festival, presented by Reliance Entertainment and American Express got off to a grand opening with Sridevi lighting the inaugural lamp along with Shyam Benegal, Chairman and Trustees of Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI).

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.

“Exhausted, happy and confused…” That’s how Boney Kapoor describes his state of mind at the moment. While the exhaustion and the happiness are understandable, considering his better-half Sridevi’s triumphant return to the marquee with <em>English Vinglish</em>, the confusion comes from question that now plagues the producer What next? That’s the question which haunts Boney.

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>.

Starring: <strong>Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou ,Sujata Kumar</strong> Directed by <strong>Gauri Shinde</strong> Rating: <strong>**** ?</strong> There are no villains in <em>English Vinglish</em>. Only imperfect human beings like you and I, who make that common error of taking loved ones for granted.