Sridevi to help NRI women

One of Bollywood's most reclusive divas is all set to break free of her unapproachable image to reach out to thousands of women across the world.

Sridevi has so far restricted her limitless talents to her on-screen roles, keeping herself aloof from life beyond the camera and and beyond the domain of her domesticity.

That is about to change. The shy hermetic diva is about to come out and reach out to a very special galaxy of Indian women across the world: the NRI housewives who find themselves isolated in foreign lands due to linguistic constraints.

To rewind a bit, Sridevi in her comeback film 'English Vinglish' plays an Indian housewife in New York, compelled to grapple with a whole cultural transition.

Linguistic barriers play a very prominent part in the film. Sridevi will take the message of linguistic bridge-building beyond the film, to Indian housewives across the world via the digital and various other media.

Though the plans at this moment are absolutely hush-hush we've come to know that the producers of 'English Vinglish' plan to establish a rapport between Sridevi and NRI women through micro-blogging sites.

Says a source close to the project, "Sridevi who has never known a world outside her home and family would be addressing NRI women on Facebook. She will also open a Twitter account meant specificially for Indian women in distress, particular, linguistic distress, in any part of the world. In essence, she would be required to break free of her shy reclusive image to reach out, and offer remedies to women caught in critical situations."

A panel of experts would guide Sridevi in providing advise to women on topics that she may not be familiar with. But we came to know that Sridevi intends to handle the international crisis-management provision for ladies largely by herself.

An international distress helpline is also in the offing.

Says a source close to the project, "We're hugely surprised by how much effort Sri has made to overcome her inherent shyness to reach out. The process started during the shooting. She made an effort to bond with actors of every nationality. Now she has wholeheartedly agreed to lend her celebrity status to Indian women abroad who have lost their bearings and are clueless about how to get back on the radar. Sri empathizes with their predicament. She has been a bit of an Alice In Wonderland in Bollywood."


When contacted the film's producer, filmmaker R Balki explained, "We always intended to take the film's statement to a world outside the theatre. Yes, Sri will form a community of overseas women, digitally and otherwise."

Feb 3, 2012, 11.05AM

From
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/cinema/Sridevi-to-help-NRI-women/articleshow/11738206.cms