To get the technical side of the film out of the way, the namesake is exquisitely done. The namesake is mira nair s ninth feature, and i suspect the one closest to her heart. Mira nair mira nairs the namesake, adapted from the jhumpa lahiri novel of the same name, tells the story of two generations of the ganguli family, providing a glimpse at the immigrant experience in america. It tells the story of a young couple who have an arranged marriage in calcutta and. Sahira nair is known for her work on the darjeeling limited 2007, monsoon wedding 2001 and the namesake 2006. The namesake is a diasporic novel that traces the story of the ganguli family. Nairs film is based on jhumpa lahiris novel of the same name. Jhumpa lahiris very popular novel the namesake has been successfully adapted for the screen by sooni taraporevala and the gifted director mira nair has gathered a fine cast to capture the spirit of the original story of family commitment despite cultural changes and challenges. This paper the namesake by jhumpa lahiri and mira nair focuses on the movie which is based on the book of the same name written by the author jhumpa lahiri. A portrait of the film based on the novel by jhumpa.
Nair has plenty to say about the cultural identity issues that permeate the narrative, and her usual confident filming techniques bolster her. The namesake is an emotional, heartwrenching film filled with beauty and subtlety. With exceptional performances, a perfectionist directors. The film takes place primarily in kolkata, india read more. At first it is arguable that the main character is very unlikable as played by kal penn, however he goes on a journey through the film that further humanizes him. Mar 09, 2007 in her adaptation of the namesake, mira nair hits it right at least half the time. Attentive to surfaces as well as nuances, mira nairs adaptation of jhumpa lahiris novel, the namesake, is about legacies and responsibilities, ambitions and dislocations.
Its a simple thing, but made with obvious care by the perpetually underrated mira nair, and its gentle humanism is like a breeze of fresh spring air. Kal penn, irrfan khan, tabu, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith, sahira nair, jagannath guha, ruma guha thakurta. Based on the book by pulitzer prizewinner jhumpa lahiri, sooni taraporevala. Mar 09, 2007 mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate. Irfan khan, whose quiet sincerity holds the whole film together was a young man, he survived a train crash due to the book he was. In nair s version, the namesake is also a story about two people ashoke and ashima finding love with each other in a country that is their home, but not really quite theirs, in the way it is.
The namesake is not niche in any sense of the word. Find sahira nair movies, filmography, bio, co stars, photos, news and tweets. Mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are. The film takes place primarily in kolkata, new york city and new york state suburbs. Above all, we loved namesakes poignant story of two bengali immigrants to the u. As it begins, ashoke ganguli and his pregnant young wife ashima are living in cambridge while he does research at. She explains how photographs help her crystallize the visual style of her films and which particular photos influenced her vision for the namesake. The namesake, jhumpa lahiri the namesake 2003 is the first novel by american author jhumpa lahiri. The book looks at the themes of family, identity, parental love, and nostalgia. A disappointingly bland followup to a stellar story collection. The namesake by mira nair kal penn, tabu, irfan khan. Sahira nair as sonia ganguli glenne headly as lydia ratliff daniel gerroll as gerald ratliff 122 minutesrated pg for sexualitynudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language. Jul 31, 2019 the namesake is a 2006 drama film directed by mira nair and written by sooni taraporevala based on the novel the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. The ending finds the namesake alone, about to read the russian gogol for the first time.
Even so, and due to being born in the states, both kids are far more comfortable with american culture than their parents. The film club is screening mira nairs the namesake on monday, june at 6. Sep 16, 2003 girlfriend number three is an ultrasophisticated indian academic with as little interest in bengali culture as gogol. Apr 01, 2007 the namesake, adapted by sooni taraporevala from a book by the pulitzer prizewinning novelist jhumpa lahiri, is about the hopes, disappointments, pains and consolations of life over some 40 years. The namesake depicts the struggles of ashoke and ashima ganguli irrfan khan and tabu, firstgeneration immigrants from the east indian state of west bengal to the united states, and their americanborn children gogol and sonia sahira nair. Like her previous films vanity fair, monsoon wedding, and hbos hysterical blindness, mira nairs the namesake is a lush, beautiful film bursting with rich color and visual texture. Jhumpa lahiris 2003 novel the namesake begins with gogols birth in a. The film, directed by mira nair screenplay by sooni taraporevala from novel by. It was originally a novel published in the new yorker and was later expanded to a fulllength novel. The namesake is mira nairs ninth feature, and i suspect the one closest to her. I read the namesake about two months ago when i found out that there was a movie version coming out very soon. Very little of the excitement or bustle of the city is shown, and then the family moves to some suburb in a set that seems lifted straight out of the brady bunch, only difference being the home is on a culdesac. Nairs ambitious the namesake is her adaptation of the national book awardwinning novel by jhumpa lahiri, telling of the journey of an indianamerican architect and his parents from calcutta to new york. Starring kal penn yes, the guy from the harold and kumar films, tabu, irrfan khan, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, and sahira nair, this touching film explores how a firstgeneration immigrant family from.
The namesake is mira nairs ninth feature, and i suspect the one closest to her heart. In the namesake, the parents take their children back to visit india. On a whole, meera nairs the namesake is a worldclass film with universal emotions. The family shifts to america from calcutta and thus the story starts unravelling. If it werent for photography, i wouldnt be a filmmaker. Mira nair obviously feels very close to the source material because her direction suits it perfectly. The action takes place in and around boston and new york between 1968 and 2000. A portrait of the film based on the novel by jhumpa lahiri newmarket pictorial moviebooks mira nair, jhumpa lahiri on. Like a lot of moving stories, namesake is a story at multiple levels. Interpreter of maladies, 1999 focuses on the divide between indian immigrants and their americanized children. The namesake clearly is biting off more than it should be chewing.
Theatre and television kept him afloat until mira nair offered him a cameo in salaam bombay 1988 though his role was edited out in the final film. Ashoke ganguli irfan khan and his wife ashima tabu and their two america born children gogol kal penn and sonia sahira nair. Ashoke and ashima move to the burbs and have children, a daughter named sonia sahira nair and a son named gogol kal penn, after ashokes fateful book, a secret he never shares with anyone. The film was produced by indian, american and japanese studios. Kal penn, tabu, irfan khan, jacinda barrett, sahira nair, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith directed by. Kal penn, irrfan khan, tabu, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith, sahira nair, jagannath guha, ruma guha thakurta, sandip deb, sukanya, tanushree shankar, mira nair, anadil hossain, dinaz stafford, lori keith douglas. The namesake is a bittersweet tail of self acceptance and family. Kal penn, and a daughter, sonia sahira nair, the directors niece. Her production company, mirabai films, specializes in films for international audiences on indian society, whether in the economic, social or cultural spheres. A timeless, classic story of identity, family, and selfdiscovery. A tale of love, the namesake, the golden lion winning.
Most of her stories revolve around indian families living in their native land or of indian immigrants, most of who travel to the usa. The namesake goodreads meet your next favorite book. The namesake is based on a bestselling 2003 novel by jhumpa lahiri and has been beautifully adapted for the screen by sooni taraporevala. The novel was adapted into a movie starring tabu, irrfan khan, kal penn, and sahira nair in 2006. He received recognition for his roles in the warrior 2001, maqbool 2003, haasil 2004, the namesake 2006, a mighty heart 2007, slumdog millionaire 2008, billu 2009, new york 2009, new. Mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a. However, this onesentence synopsis hints at why the namesake cant achieve greatness it cant decide on either a main character or a main story. Americanborn gogol, the son of indian immigrants, wants to fit in among his fellow new yorkers, despite his familys unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. The namesake starts by establishing how ashoke ganguli irfan khan and his wife ashima tabu met, moved to the united states, and then started a family. The namesake unfortunately comes up a zero in its depiction of new york.
Mainly, the sidelining of little sister sonia an adorable sahira nair and the empty, forced romantic relationship between gogol and moushumi zuleikha robinson. The namesake is a 2006 indianamerican drama film which was released in the united states on 9. Above all, we loved namesake s poignant story of two bengali immigrants to the u. The last third of the book drags a little and didnt sustain my attention the way the rest of the book did. She shows how two parents sacrifice and struggle for the happiness of their children. It stars tabu, irrfan khan, kal penn and sahira nair. Director mira nair vanity fair, a monsoon wedding does an incredible job telling this complicated story. Original essays and glorious photography, stunningly designed in this. Among her best known films are mississippi masala, kama sutra. Plot the namesake depicts the struggles of ashoke and ashima ganguli irrfan khan and tabu, firstgeneration immigrants from the east indian state of west bengal to the united states, and their americanborn children gogol and sonia sahira nair. Based on the bestselling book by jhumpa lahiri, the film follows two generations of the ganguli family. Mira nair born 15 october 1957 is an indianamerican filmmaker based in new york city. The film takes place primarily in kolkata, new york city and new york state suburbs the story begins as ashoke and ashima leave. Nair cuts to the story of the namesake more efficiently than does ms.
In 2007, nair was asked to direct harry potter and the order of the phoenix, but turned it down to work on the namesake. The initial days of irfan and tabus marital life are very tenderly portrayed. Kal penn, mira nair, sahira nair, tabu, the namesake, the times bfi london film festival, zuleikha robinson. Director mira nair vanity fair, a monsoon wedding does an incredible job telling this complicated story that spans two continents and two generations. In the lead role is kal penn, here rescued from the dumb comedies he has been trapped in since he played a certain burgerseeking new jerseyite. John and i tried to get rights to turn the book into the film, but mira nair. A life between two worlds march 9, 2007 in the namesake, the film based on the bestselling novel by jhumpa lahiri, a family from india struggles with the immigrant. The film was released in the united states on 9 march 2007, following. Beautifully written, with vivid depictions of characters and settings that feel true and authentic. Mira nair s the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate. Nair captures the true meaning of the word namesake. Apr 30, 2007 nairs film is based on jhumpa lahiris novel of the same name.
The namesake depicts the struggles of ashoke and ashima ganguli irrfan khan and tabu, two firstgeneration immigrants from west bengal, india to the united states, and their americanborn children gogol kal penn and sonia sahira nair. Mira nairs essay, photographs as inspiration, begins with the provocative comment. The namesake is a 2006 indianamerican drama film directed by mira nair and written by sooni taraporevala based on the novel the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. The namesake is a 2006 drama film directed by mira nair and written by sooni taraporevala based on the novel the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. In her adaptation of the namesake, mira nair hits it right at least half the time. Bought after reading the book the namesake i was looking forward to a treat. Attentive to surfaces as well as nuances, mira nair s adaptation of jhumpa lahiris novel, the namesake, is about legacies and responsibilities, ambitions and dislocations.
The last 20 minutes of the film is intensely emotional and those emotions will haunt you even after you leave the theater. Years later, gogol kal penn is a teen who gets grief from others about his name, unlike his younger sister, sonia sahira nair. There is a brilliant use of nostalgia and memory as a major theme in the film, and its work to the films strengths in evoking a lot of emotion and evolving several character arcs. The film was released in the united states on 9 march 2007, following screenings at film festivals in.
Its a tie between jhumpa lahiris the namesake and mira nairs screen version a novel that details the generational confusions of an immigrant family. Whereas the book focuses on the life of one man, gogol, ms. The namesake is a 2006 englishlanguage drama film directed by mira nair and written by sooni taraporevala based on the novel the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. The namesake, adapted by sooni taraporevala from a book by the pulitzer prizewinning novelist jhumpa lahiri, is about the hopes, disappointments, pains and consolations of life over some 40 years. Most of her stories revolve around indian families living in their native land or of indian immigrants, most of. The namesake 2006 hindi film bollywood movie indian. Based on the bestselling book by jhumpa lahiri, the.
1080 265 563 250 944 1357 760 1465 836 1514 1087 408 1478 17 1129 286 384 1108 575 1441 1264 210 1352 874 249 825 1228 1071 174 414 402 637 1010 43