The Namesake is a story that is more appealing as a novel as compared to the film.The film keeps you glued, more for its storytelling than the actual story itself. And Mira Nair’s storytelling is so effective that it overpowers the one-dimensional plot of the film.So go on reading this short review:)
*Story:
The film opens in the early 80s in Calcutta. An arranged marriage brings together two Bengalis? Ashoke Ganguly(Irrfan Khan) and Ashima(Tabu).Ashima arrives from Calcutta with Ashoke.Ashoke has been studying fibre optics at a New York City university from the past two years. Alone in a cold and strange city, Ashima pines for Calcutta and the company of her parents and close-knit extended family.
Shortly after Ashoke and Ashima give birth to their first child, a son, in a NY hospital, they are informed that the child must have a name before they are discharged. Because the name is traditionally decided by the maternal grandmother, who is living in India, Ashoke decides to give his son a temporary name, to be changed later, and names him “Gogol”.
The later, however, never arrives, so the baby’s unusual pet name, “Gogol, ” after Russian writer Nicolai Gogol, whose stories Ashoke believes once saved his life, winds up on the birth certificate. Gogol’s (Kal Penn) determination to change his “pet name” to the “good name” his parents eventually chose — “Nikhil, ” again in honor of Gogol — grows even stronger.
But after attempting to move away and into the lives of his wealthy, waspy girlfriend and her parents“Nikhil” discovers that changing his name and escaping all it represents are two very different things. The struggles of Gogol, in many ways a typical American kid who just longs to be like everyone else, to come to terms with his name and his culture, serve as the narrative framework for the movie.
*Stats:
Direction: The direction of the movie is good, the luk n feel of the movie gives original touch.the costumes, sets are very fine.The Sepia background running thru out the movie is good
Acting: Oh man! Irrfan, Tabu, Penn.performances are breathtaking, They are just so beyond imagination, The rest starcast like Gogol’s gf, and other foriegn artists are adding only good.
Positives: The movie is short, Background score is considerable, Performances are good, direction is kept elegent and has some subtle humor.
Negatives: Well its not a commercial film so it lacks some entertainment factor, Music is not good, being short its still too slow, The climax is missing.unexpectable n really bad ending.
Overall^. This movie is a very rare form of art.having a unique concept, it wont please to all audiences.In a word "ABOVE AVG."
*Thank You
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