A backlog of movie review are piling up, so I’ll try to get some out of the way quickly. Since I haven’t reviewed an Indian film before, I’ll put up this one, particularly as this is one film that is definitely worth seeing.
The Namesake (2006)
Irfan Khan, Tabu, Kal Penn
Dir: Mira Nair – 2007 – USA/India
Based on the book by Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake tells of the story of a first generation Bengali couple who move to New York after their marriage. Prior to their wedding, Ashoke (Irfan Khan) is involved in a train crash in which he is the only survivor, and decides to explore the world, on the recommendation of a fellow passenger moments before the crash. He eventually settles in New York, returning to India for a marriage arrangement with Ashima (Tabu). On the birth of their son, they are forced to pick a name for their son, breaking with their Indian traditions. They pick Gogol for his name, Ashoke’s favourite author, eventually to change it to Nikhil, bud sadly Gogol sticks.
The film explores the life of two generations of Indian families and their take on growing up in New York. While there isn’t a single plot that runs through the storyline (after all it was originally a novel), it is a interesting and intriguing portrait of different generations of minorities coping with what is a culture clash. Certainly, I felt on leaving the cinema that those young British Asians who also saw the film (quite a few I might add) were relating to the story. Certainly, as a so-called "BBC" myself (British-born Chinese), I could draw my own personal parallels.
All in all, it was a good film, very well written, directed and acted, and ends up succeeding in demonstrating the strength of family even when it’s not obviously evident. Very well told story. One for a feel good night in.
Links:
Official site (Fox)
IMDb entry for The Namesake
Trailer for The Namesake