Angrezi Medium

Oh the pleasure of watching Irrfan Khan perform one last time, in full bloom, in total control, in a natural flow with an essay of emotions that you immediately associate with. Irreplaceable indeed. We have lost a gem in him and I don't see anyone stepping into his shoes, now or in the distant future. Such was his grip over the deliverable that everyone would melt into and associate with his character, executed with mastery, integrity, depth and warmth, always! Sir, you leave behind a void of a different kind among us movie enthusiasts, something that words cannot describe.

"There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself." Champak Bansal (Irrfan Khan) is a single father who painstakingly and affectionately brings up his daughter Tarika (Radhika Madan) in Udaypur. He has humble worldly possessions that include a sweet shop with a disputed but sought after brand name "Ghasitaram". Tarika however dreams big, wants to study in the UK and also become independent, perhaps having been stifled under the parental control. She is so adamant about her aspirations that Champak has to give in and agree to funding her studies in London. He and his friends Gopi (Deepak Dobriyal in a heartwarming role), Gajju (Kiku Sharda) and Bablu (Ranvir Shorey) leave no stone unturned to secure an admission for Tarika in the university and in the process, lose virtually every material possession and money. But Tarika fails to understand her father's sacrifice and is also somewhat embarrassed by his country bumpkin eccentricity.

Angrezi Medium is about highlighting the chasm between the eastern and western cultures without taking sides or being preachy. It is about the delicate and tender relationship between a doting father and a teenage daughter, and its seesaw battle between selfishness and selflessness. Its is about friendly warmth and having each other's back. Above all, it's about family values and the unconditional love of a father for his daughter. At times it does come across as over the top and dramatic, but quickly returns back on track to keep the narrative moving. Radhika Madan is downright impressive in her debut, very expressive and never losing the plot. Watch Angrezi Medium for the sensitive handling of a delicate subject that is easy to associate with.