Movie Review: The Namesake

by Aru Singh

Based on the best-selling novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake is the story of the Ganguli family, who move from Calcutta to New York in the late 1970s. The touching story explores their inner turmoil in the U.S., especially as they try to raise their son with their own set of Indian traditions and run into conflicts between Eastern and Western mindsets.

The movie begins when Ashoke Ganguli (Irrfan Khan), an engineer in the U.S., goes back to his hometown Calcutta for an arranged marriage to his bride-to-be Ashima (Tabu). They return to the U.S., a new country of which they are very proud, but, like most first generation immigrants, at heart they still remain attached to their Bengali roots and culture. Ashima is slowly but surely falling in love with her “chosen” husband. It's in these scenes that the film shows it true charm—it's so beautifully and realistically handled.

But once they have children problems surface. They grow up full of New York attitude, and tend to have difficulty accepting Indian traditions and customs. The firstborn, rebellious son Gogol (Kal Penn) and his sister Sonia’s (Sahira Nair) dual identities cause them both conflict and even heartache. They endure racism, work and snobbery; meet potential partners; marry: the sad and joyful surprises of the 25-year life journey the movie encompasses.

The lead couple, noted Bollywood actors, give flawless performances. Kal Penn and Sahira Nair also put in decent performances, as does the remaining supporting cast. But what really stands out in the movie is the realism and dialogue. The movie, despite being poignant and serious, is not preachy.

But the movie is not without faults. The script drags at times, the camerawork is less than perfect and the characters of the two children are slightly under-developed.

Yet The Namesake remains a powerful and compelling drama. It is not as much about Indian culture (then and now) as it is about the power and pull of family—that one force that unites us all with love and misery in equal measure. In this era of globalization, immigration and free movement, The Namesake presents the often-ignored human perspective.