mira nair is certainly improving/maturing - but the sensitivity which most people associate with the novel/book is somewhat lacking in this movie - but the cast and performances are brilliant! that says a lot about presentday Bollywood, in which only a handful of actors like Irfan Khan and Tabu can do justice to the roles in such movies
Behind the witty lines and the pace of the movie, also lies the untold story of a decaying middleclass value system in bengali society - having suffered the onslaught of a repressive communist dictated govt for several decades, most bengalis have an acute problem of identity, both at the community and social level - and in this mess, there are many kids like the character Moushumi in this movie, who are not sure of their own value systems and make a mess of themselves - having known several bengalis, i can say this for sure
As a footnote - I shudder to think of the spent force AB being cast with the magnetic Johnny Depp in Mira Nair's next movie - perhaps, Mira is doing it with the commercial output in mind, but Naseer or Om Puri wud have been a better and more apt choice - I just hope it doesnt turn out to be embarassing watching big B hamming in front of Johny Depp!
A Film which has been adapted from a novel has the difficult duty of keeping up to its Namesake. Becausee one interprets the tale in a way and expects to see it on the big screen. The Namesake ironically fails living upto its namesake, the novel. Because the film shows something else than what I would expect. Somehow Gogol gets relegated to the background while we are treated to a few hours of Tabu-as-Ashima spouting wisecracks , the "name" motif muddling through( it is the namesake, please give it anotter name- maybe why-I-cannot-make-a-film-true-to-the-novel)and some incomplete business with a Pierre- or was-it-Andre somewhere. And another bit of advice Calcutta with IndusInd bank backgrounds in the sixties is a little non-chronistic... or wait maybe this is all a flight of imagination.... Good Acting Irrfan but coldn't you ahve been more professorial?
I heard Jhumpa Lahiri cried when she saw the movie, I dont wonder why....
If you read the novel just don't correlate it to the movie, nor if you watch teh movies and read the novel, don't try to match them- that probability is very minute. Otherwise, lets call it more hype about a movie which we would not even have noticed had it not been for the director..
The movie, THE NAMESAKE is an extraordinary experience captured by Mira Nair through Laharis Novel. The movie itself does not seem to be a fiction or a peice of creativity but it works out to be a real life story showing incredible happiness to some and sorrows to others. firstly the couple Ashoke and Ashima have a extraordinary american experience which bonds them immortally in a silent way right through the end of the movie, secondly the movie is a facinating journey of their children specially Gogol who grows up to love an american woman, marries a english/french/bengali lady and finally is in a pursuit to find happiness for himself. though i believe the movie wont be a commercial success in india as it is not a action/glamorous/comedy flick like like many other countless creations, but it will definetly find audience who like to embark on a story which is refreshing,mature,and afacinating experience, especially audience who are asians but have migrated or living in other country in pursiut of happiness. I am not a British Indian yet but i cherished the experience which Mira Nair has shownthrough her creativity.Krishna Kadam
I am not an Ammerican-Indian yet but on my way and deffinitly in the "see the world" mood.This movie has really gave me a hard reality check on what i might expect and the kind of tradeoffs u need to make.Its a slow movie for most of my collegues in India and i agree cos they have never felt what it was when u live outside.The part of Kal penn loosing his father was a brillantly captured in the film.My father is an NRI and he came to know abt his mothers death only after a day,There were no cellphones at that time.That scene was the most intense for me and no movie has ever captured that reality execpt fot this.
It was a very touching story of immigrants and their strife to maintain their link to their culture. The part about getting home the ashes after the cremation and inability to accept the love affair of the wife were very poignant. Excellent movie!!!
I have been swept of my feet by the novel. Knowing Bengali culture well, I enjoyed all the nuances which probably the "rest of India" might miss out on. But The central theme is something all of India will relate to. I don't think the authors intention was to show Kolkata(or India) in poor light(as someone here mentioned), I have known load shedding to be part of daily life in Calcutta in the 80's. It is commendable that Jhumpa Lahiri has brought our story to mainstream writing. I have seen Kal Penn in mostly comic roles, it will be interesting to see if he has done justice to Gogol Ganguly!!
