The 2012 comedy drama English Vinglish, starring veteran actress Sridevi in the lead role, is one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed films. It is one of those feel-good films that empowers women and encourages them to overcome their fears. If you loved its refreshing and comforting story, here are some more movies like English Vinglish that are worth adding to your watchlist.
7 movies like English Vinglish that will lift your spirits:
1. Lapata Ladies
Duration: 2 hours 2 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama
Movie Star Cast: Nitanshi Goyal, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, Ravi Kishan
Director: Kiran Rao
Writers: Sneha Desai, Divyanidhi Sharma, Biplab Goswami
Release Year: 2024
Where to watch/OTT platform: Netflix
Missing Ladies is one of the recently released movies that is similar to English Vinglish. It is a heartwarming story of two brides who get lost from the same train. Phool, separated from her husband Deepak, learns to be independent. While Jaya, who is running away from marriage, gets a chance to fulfill her dreams.
2. 12th fail
Duration: 2 hours 26 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
Film Genre: Biography/Drama
Movie Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Medha Shankar, Anant V Joshi, Anshuman Pushkar, Priyanshu Chatterjee
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Writer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Release Year: 2023
Where to watch/OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar
The much-loved film 12th Fail will inspire you just like English Vinglish. It is the real-life story of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who faces various challenges in his attempts to clear the UPSC exams. It also shows his love story with his wife Shraddha Joshi.
3. Hindi Medium
Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Movie Genre: Comedy/Drama
Film Star Cast: Irrfan Khan, Saba Qamar, Dishita Sehgal, Amrita Singh, Deepak Dobriyal
Director: Saket Chaudhary
Writers: Saket Chaudhary, Zeenat Lakhani
Release Year: 2017
Where to watch/OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video
In Hindi Medium, a Delhi couple named Raj and Mita want to get their daughter Pia admitted to the best English medium school in the city. They try everything possible, from changing houses to pretending to be poor for a scheme. The light-hearted story of the film was well received by critics and audiences.
4. Dear Zindagi
Duration: 2 hours 29 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Movie Genre: Drama
Movie Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Shahrukh Khan, Ira Dubey, Rohit Saraf, Kunal Kapoor, Ali Zafar
Director: Gauri Shinde
Author: Gauri Shinde
Release Year: 2016
Where to watch/OTT platform: Netflix
Dear Zindagi, directed by the same director of English Vinglish, is another coming-of-age story. Kaira is a cinematographer who is going through a lot in her life, and seeks the help of a therapist. The film is an honest attempt to spread awareness about mental health and its importance.
5. Highway
Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Movie Genre: Drama/Romance
Film Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Writer: Imtiaz Ali
Release Year: 2014
Where to watch/OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Highway is a road drama film that was a major breakthrough in the career of lead actress Alia Bhatt. She plays the role of Veera, the daughter of a rich family who is kidnapped by Mahabir. However, instead of living in fear, she eventually experiences peace as she was unhappy in her home.
6. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Duration: 2 hours 33 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Movie Genre: Adventure Drama/Romance
Movie Star Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Writer: Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Farhan Akhtar
Release Year: 2011
Where to watch/OTT platform: Netflix/Amazon Prime Video
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is a great movie just like English Vinglish. It is the story of three friends and their bachelor trip to Spain. In this journey that proves to be extremely entertaining for the audience, they face their past, find love and discover the true meaning of life.
7. Taare Zameen Par
Duration: 2 hours 42 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Movie Genre: Family/Drama
Movie Star Cast: Darsheel Safary, Aamir Khan, Tisca Chopra, Vipin Sharma, Tanya Chheda
Director: Aamir Khan
Author: Amol Gupte
Release Year: 2007
Where to watch/OTT platform: Netflix
If you want to watch movies like English Vinglish, then you should definitely watch Taare Zameen Par. However, you should be warned that it is guaranteed to make you cry. It is a heartwarming story of a dyslexic child named Ishaan, who finds help from his art teacher when his parents send him to boarding school.
More information about English Vinglish
In English Vinglish, Sridevi played the role of Shashi, who is not fluent in the English language. As she learns English, she also rediscovers herself and her self-esteem. Directed by Gauri Shinde, the film can be watched on Jio Cinema and ZEE5.
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