The Namesake
wogma rating: Beg or borrow, but do watch (?)
This is story-telling at its best. Especially considering there was nothing very unique or great about the story itself. I was mesmerized by Tabu’s acting. Simple day-to-day dialogues and none, if not necessary added to the elegance of the movie.
Read more
In general, I like movies which have a strong compelling story. Once in a while though, comes along a movie like ‘The Namesake’ where the direction, screenplay and most importantly - the acting make you forget that the story is ‘nothing spectacular’. And this is despite the fact that it is relatively slow paced.
The story is no doubt a truthful and authentic narration of the average NRI family who moved abroad in the 70s - from the locations and sets to the accents and reactions of various characters. Especially, how Tabu and Irrfan lose the heavy Bangla accent gradually as the years go by. This could also mean that people who haven’t lived outside India for an extended period of time might not identify with the characters. They will enjoy the narrative nevertheless.
While the characters of Ashima (Tabu) and Ashoke (Irrfan Khan) are sketched out in quite some detail and are played out beautifully, some parts of Gogol’s (Kal Penn) character seemed superficial, especially his love life. By any standards, this is a Tabu movie all the way. The lady gracefully ages from a daughter to a wife to a mother. It is amazing how with just one movement of her eye, you know exactly what her character is feeling.
However, since it is a movie that tries to be as close to reality as possible, it is the missing nuances that bothered me a couple of times during the two hours. I must admit that I haven’t read the book, and this could be one of those things that didn’t find their way into the movie.
High on emotions and jerking tears along the way, this one is worth a watch just for the performances. The beauty lies in the depth of the relationships touched upon. This is one of those rare occasions where how the story is told consumes the audience rather than the story itself.
Update: Corrected spelling mistake - 'Ashim' replaced by 'Ashima'. Thanks Ashima (Comment #1 on notepad).
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Aparajita Ghosh, Apun Ka Choice : ...Not once are the emotions overblown... full review
Thumbs up, by Sanjay Ram, Business of Cinema : ...You can almost smell the air and feel the wind while watching the film... full review
Thumbs up, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...It's clear that the film's central theme is alienation from other cultures and one's own, and it's remarkable how the director hits the right note from the very start.... full review
Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM : ...The sequences that hold your interest are mostly those that feature Irrfan and Tabu.... full review
Thumbs up, by Merril Diniz, Rediff : ...it surpasses one's expectations... full review
Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Sify Movies : ...Mira Nair stays wedded to a muted emotional expression even in the strongest moments of drama... full review
Thumbs up, by Naomi Datta, Times Now : ...makes a fairly good film out of a fairly nothing novel... full review
Thumbs up, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ... The Namesake is a Haiku about Hindustan: minimalist, magical and intensely moving.... full review
So-So, by Sreeram Ramachandran, M TV : ...Somehow, whether you like these films or not, you end up relating to the characters and not wanting bad things to happen to them... full review
Thumbs down, by Pankaj Shukla, SmasHits.com : ...Scriptwriter Taraporevala tries his best to keep the people in illusion that something big will soon happen, but nothing like it takes place.... full review
Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Warning: this section has some details that could distort your experience while watching the movie. I strongly recommend reading this only after you have seen the movie or if you have decided not to see it.
Plot Summary
Ashoke (Irrfan Khan) and Ashima (Tabu) get married the arranged marriage way. Ashima goes to New York with Ashoke who is studying there. They do well for themselves and start a family. The story then goes on to show the various facets of their relationship with their children.
What Worked
- The love scene between Ashima and Ashoke was done with a lot of sensitivity and passion
- The sequence in which the Ganguli family visits Taj Mahal. How the three main characters react to seeing the monument is captured beautifully.
- The use of gray when the story reaches the sad parts.
- Tabu’s reaction when Gogol’s girlfriend calls her and Irrfan by name.
- Tabu’s acting when she hears of the loss of dear ones.
- Ashima’s little farewell speech.
What did not
- Introduction of Gogol’s girlfriend was rather abrupt.
- Ashoke’s parents are hardly ever shown. Their absence was very awkward.
- When they avoided all clichés, they should have avoided the over-usage of “This is America”.
- Just one slight hitch in Ashima’s character. She asks Gogol to patch up with Maxime. After a couple of dialogues she wants him to try meeting Maushumi. Doesn’t gel with the rest of her character
- Little things about Gogol’s character – on the whole he came across as a person for whom sex was not everything in a romantic relationship, then why was he attracted to Maushumi?
Nitty-Gritty
- Did Indian Airlines do international flight in late 70s or was it a domestic flight Ashima and Ashoke were taking?
- Were non-passengers allowed to come right to where the planes are boarded to see-off their loved ones?
- The house that Ashima and Ashoke first moved to in New York seemed a little big for a student.
- In a movie where they got everything right, a smiling new-born baby seemed out of place. Babies don’t smile like that till they are 14-16 weeks old.
- The Ganguli family were taking a long airplane trip with a small baby – but without a baby bag!
- Ashoke goes for a six month trip with just one carry-on bag.
- Doesn’t Ashima’s voice age over the years (while singing).
Update: Corrected spelling mistake - 'Ashim' replaced by 'Ashima'. Thanks Ashima (Comment #1).
![[Facebook page of The Namesake]](/static/images/icons/facebook_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Wikipedia page of The Namesake]](/static/images/icons/wiki_small.png){kind=icon}
![[IMDB Page of The Namesake]](/static/images/icons/imdb_small.png){kind=icon}
![[UTV Motion Pictures twitter account]](/static/images/icons/twitter_small.png){kind=icon}
Comments (8)
Am glad you did that anonymous. I identified a lot with Tabu's character.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for your input, Jayanta. Well, I thought Gogol's character was not fully fleshed out, especially considering that he was one of the most important character in the story. Have no complaints about how Ashima and Ashoke's characters were handled, though.
Hi Meetu,
I am your namesake it seems ;o)
Well I too have something to say about the movie...
http://mee-raj.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Meetu
Hey namesake! Cool write-up you have there. I like the brevity of your reviews. Thanks for stopping by.
@Meetu - a few of us (I,my wife Tammy, Bruce Coville's wife Kathy, and our friend Cynthia) watched THE NAMESAKE. While it's different from the usual kind of Indian movie we've seen (understandably given it's from Mira Nair, who's one of Tammy's favorite Indian directors), it was a enjoyable, well-acted, modestly-emotional movie about...life.
I liked Kal Penn's performance more than you did, I think - probably because he felt like a typical good American young man from a non-Anglo culture fitting in in America: A bit self-centered and embarrassed about his traditional parents, wanting to make his own way in the world, but still a loving son who doesn't ditch his family obligations. Given that most of us know him as the Indian stoner Kumar in a popular movie comedy series, his nuanced performance here is quite a revelation.
@TimELiebe That makes sense. This was the first time I saw him. I have always wondered what it'll be like to see 'The Big Bang Theory' trio in different roles.
Kal Penn's been in other American movies and television shows that you'd be more likely to see, Meetu. He was one of Lex Luthor's henchman in SUPERMAN RETURNS, he was one of the numbered doctors on HOUSE, and a ::sigh:: terrorist on 24 (because what else does Hollywood cast desi actors as if not terrorists - or socially inept, thickly-accented scientists/doctors/computer experts?).
What he's mostly doing these days is working for U.S. President Obama (under his real name, Kalpen Modi), and going back to college to get a degree in International Security.
@TimELiebe oh wow! That's a multi-faceted personality!
Leave a Comment