36 Vayadhinile

7/4/2015

In many ways, 36 Vayadhinile is closer in spirit to Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish. Both are feel-good films that mark the comeback of a beloved actress (Sridevi there, Jyotika here). Both the films talk about empowerment, especially of middle-aged women. If Shashi of English Vinglish is a housewife who supports her family by being an entrepreneur (who makes laddoos), Vasanthi (Jyotika) goes to a job to share the financial burden of running a family. Both these characters become an embarrassment of sorts for their teenaged daughters. Both are forced to look inward only when they become truly alone — if Shashi has to go to the US on her own, here, Vasanthi is left behind by her husband and daughter. Both gain confidence when someone from the past comes into their life; if it was a niece fo