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The Namesake (2007) DVD Review
The Namesake (2007) DVD Credits:
The Namesake (2007) Directed by:
Mira Nair
The Namesake (2007) Written by:
Sooni Taraporevala
The Namesake (2007) Cast:
Irfan Khan, Kal Penn, Zuleikha Robinson, Konkona Sen Sharma, Jacinda Barrett, Glenne Headly, Brooke Smith
The Namesake (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Namesake (2007) DVD Release Date:
27th November 2007
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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The Namesake (2007) Synopsis:

The Namesake is the story of the Ganguli family whose move from Calcutta to New York evokes a lifelong balancing act to meld to a new world without forgetting the old. Though parents Ashoke and Ashima (Irfan Khan, Tabu) long for the family and culture that enveloped them in India, they take great pride in the opportunities their sacrifices have afforded their children. Paradoxically, their son Gogol (Kal Penn) is torn between finding his own unique identity without losing his heritage. Even Gogol’s name represents the family’s journey into the unknown.

The Namesake (2007) DVD Review:

It starts with a finely crafted scene of a man embarking on a trip via train. He encounters a fellow passenger and they discuss the essence of traveling the world and whether simply living life through your imagination is enough. Then the train shakes, people go flying, and the screen goes black. After this gorgeous and unexpectedly intense opening, The Namesake is ready to begin on an engaging voyage that offers more unexpected twists and turns that will leave the viewer breathless and satisfied.

I had seen the trailer for this film a multitude of times in select art houses and had a very specific idea of what it would be. I pictured a story centered around Kal Penn’s character, Gogol Ganguli, which focuses on his problems stemming from the clash between his Indian heritage and American environment. This is an element found in the second half of the film but is there to merely add another layer to the already deep and meaningful story.

The main story revolves around an Indian couple that moves to America to start their lives. Irfan Khan’s character, Ashoke Ganguli, travels the world and returns to India to seek a wife. Ashima, played by Tabu, is the traditional Indian woman singer being proposed to by Ashoke and his family. After a beautiful wedding ceremony, the couple moves to the States where they finally have an attempt to get to know each other. Their relationship is the cornerstone of the film. We follow them through the good times, such as the birth of their two children, and the bad, which ranges from deaths in the family to adapting to the American way of life. They endure many struggles and depend solely on each other. The constant intertwining of their lives shows how close two people can grow together when facing a new world and new hardships.

Not only is this film beautiful in appearance, but it also exudes richness in culture and humanity. By focusing on an Indian family, we get a glimpse of the obstacles that go along with immigrating to the United States while still confronting the fears and early developing processes of marriage. The story examines the hardships of love, parenting, long distance from family, finding a way to make a new home while not forgetting the old, and learning how to face your problems. Accents of Indian culture juxtaposed with a busy New York City setting make for a unique piece that displays how inspiring a couple growing through struggle can be. Although these two did not meet in some magical way and get a chance to fall in love, in the traditional romantic sense, it becomes magical to see a couple so committed to each other through blind faith. The events that follow show that love can exist anywhere, in any culture, and against any odds. Ashoke and Ashima’s bond is the inspiring action that unites the audience with the story.

The secondary plot, so to say, is the story of their son, Gogol. His name is special but they offer him a chance to change it when he is young so that he will have fewer problems in the American educational system. He refuses. Upon graduating high school, he contemplates how this name will sustain against petty certificates like credit cards and a college degree. He visits India with his family and decides to major in Architecture. From there, Gogol continues through life, involving himself with a girlfriend, Maxine, and adopting her family while losing interest in his own. It isn’t until major catastrophe that Gogol returns to his roots by shaving his head, taking the lead, and breaking up with Maxine. Finally ready to return to reality, Gogol dates and ends up marrying an Indian woman who is anything but traditional. Although their relationship ends with a bitter twist, Gogol sees the reason for it and understands the power and magic behind his name.

Kal Penn holds his own in this film and surprisingly comes into his own during the later dramatic scenes rather than as the earlier depicted goofy high school graduate. However, it is Khan and Tabu that steal the show. Their performances and onscreen chemistry carry the story to unimaginable heights, giving us something to grab onto and feel. Joy in the film is driven from them, as is the sadness. Without them, this film would not create such a strong connection with the audience and in turn, would be less enjoyable.

Mira Nair comments that this film was inspired by grief. You can tell. It’s heartbreaking but beautiful. It brings you to tears but makes you smile. The way she is able to convey Indian culture is powerful because it shows that no matter what part of the world you’re from, or what kind of traditions you’re accustomed to, we are all human and must experience the bad with the good. The underlying theme, of how in life there are no accidents, moves everything to connect in an uncanny way. Love conquers all in this multi-faceted exhibit and we easily see the difference in how parents, children, men, women, first generations, and second generations react to life’s unpredictable nature. The Namesake is beautiful and helps us better understand family, love, and life.

The Extras on the DVD are adequate. The section with Mira Nair and the producer sitting in with the students at Columbia offers interesting tidbits about the film’s genesis and the inspiration behind it. The deleted scenes are nothing to write home about but they’re good to watch because you know why they were cut. The segment that displays photos that inspired the filmmaking shows Nair’s style and how she draws from photographs to create her vision. For the most part, the Extras do little to add to an already outstanding film.

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The Namesake (2007) DVD review written by: Bryce Carlson

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