The Namesake

I find the Seventies very idyllic. Although I was not born in that decade (I think..) and have nobody telling me about how awesome that decade was; I somehow feel growing up in seventies in any country must had been ideal.

So a movie that is about an Indian family living in New York in seventies was bound to catch my attention. And of course when somebody like Mira Nair is directing it, there is no reason not to watch it (or rather again).

The Namesake. A story of a Bengali young man - Asokae who wants to explore the world. He lives his dreams through books, until one day a near-fatal accident and persuasion from a foreign-return uncle changes his mind. He moves to New York for studies. He then marries a beautiful Indian girl (depicted by Tabbu. She manages to look absolutely stunning throughout the movie). Love blossoms between two lonely hearts in a big, cold country. Unaware of many American ways, they end up having to name their first kid without much thought. In a feat of happiness, the proud father names his son after the book that changed his life - a biography of Ukrainian dramatist - Nikolai Gogol.

Cut..

Like many other immigrant kids who grew up confused in a foreign land (where either side of doorstep poses two different worlds), Gogol finds himself resenting his culture and traditions. He thinks of himself more as an American, rather than a son of Indian immigrant.

Then one day his father (who taught him to walk, run and dream) passes away. A long-awaited bond of love between the two only strengthens after this tragic event. He realizes that he really needs to embraces his roots, rather than trying to run away from them. At times he takes this too seriously and goes on to marry another Bengali girl who grew up in Paris. The relation is short-lived and makes him realize that the bond with his roots is much deeper than just settling down with a compatriot.

He finds the book that had unknowingly defined his identity in a closet of his beloved father. He starts reading it and realizes what his father really wanted to tell him was 'to be free and explore the world' (This is beautifully interwoven with the name of Tabbu's character - Ashima, one without boundaries!). The story ends on a content note. Gogol and his mother go on to pursue what they always dreamed of doing.

Amazing music by Nitin Sawhney, especially the 'Namesake Reprise' track (enjoy below). Just like the movie; the music touches your heart. Great cast with likes of Irrfan Khan, Tabbu and Kal Penn.



I ended up watching this movie twice on a same day! Maybe because the plot revolves around a warm portrayal of a family living apart from each other. Who knows...