I just watched the film The Namesake, in cinema. I wanted to watch this film ever since it released in Galaxy theatre, which is the theater where I watch Indian films. Anyway, I wanted to write about this film, first thing when I came home. This is definitely one of the better movies made recently, in India. I say India and not Bollywood because, am still not sure what category this film comes under, Bollywood or Hollywood or British-Indian films like Bend it like Beckham or Bride and Prejudice. But that is not the point here.
I have seen quite a few films on NRI's in either the US or UK. For instance, Siragugal by Radhika will always be remembered as one of the best films made on this subject. The Namesake is a fiction, written by Jumpa Lahiri, and is her first novel, for which she won the Pulitzer prize. This film is about the cultural differences, generation gap between the US born Indian children and their parents who immigrated to the US in 1970's. More importantly when the parents decide to name, at least temporarily, as Gogol, after the famous Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. In fact, he is later renamed Nikhil (Does that name ring a bell????). The film scores very high due to its sublime treatment. The actors have done a wonderful job.
There are quite a few scenes which have you in splits, and there are few which make you cry. I liked the one where Irfan Khan says, with a President named Jimmy, anything can happen, when they discuss names. And I had tears welled up in my eyes when Kal Penn goes to his father's flat and cries his heart out, after Irfan Khan dies. He has done a great job as Gogol, torn between his peers and parents, confused about his identity. I am sure people who moved out of India and have built a family here will be able to relate to the story very well.
Irfan Khan says that (as told to him by his grandfather), when you read a book you travel far and wide, without moving an inch. How true it is. I being a book lover myself, totally agree, that i would any day prefer books, even over cinema. So I hope to read The Namesake some day. Some trivia, Tabu who plays Kal Penn's mother is just 7 years elder to him. I guess she always looks older than she actually is. But what an actor she is ! She plays the role to perfection, be it the young girl in a foreign country or the caring mother of two, and as a widow. Anyway, I do not want to add any more to this. However, I do want to say this film is a tribute to all the parents, the most selfless of God's creations. Aren't parents the most wonderful thing that has happened in everyone's life? It is most definitely true in my case. I hope it is not a cliche when I say I am what am today because of my parents.
To my parents who have made me what I am today and gave me everything that I have. Love you always.
I have seen quite a few films on NRI's in either the US or UK. For instance, Siragugal by Radhika will always be remembered as one of the best films made on this subject. The Namesake is a fiction, written by Jumpa Lahiri, and is her first novel, for which she won the Pulitzer prize. This film is about the cultural differences, generation gap between the US born Indian children and their parents who immigrated to the US in 1970's. More importantly when the parents decide to name, at least temporarily, as Gogol, after the famous Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. In fact, he is later renamed Nikhil (Does that name ring a bell????). The film scores very high due to its sublime treatment. The actors have done a wonderful job.
There are quite a few scenes which have you in splits, and there are few which make you cry. I liked the one where Irfan Khan says, with a President named Jimmy, anything can happen, when they discuss names. And I had tears welled up in my eyes when Kal Penn goes to his father's flat and cries his heart out, after Irfan Khan dies. He has done a great job as Gogol, torn between his peers and parents, confused about his identity. I am sure people who moved out of India and have built a family here will be able to relate to the story very well.
Irfan Khan says that (as told to him by his grandfather), when you read a book you travel far and wide, without moving an inch. How true it is. I being a book lover myself, totally agree, that i would any day prefer books, even over cinema. So I hope to read The Namesake some day. Some trivia, Tabu who plays Kal Penn's mother is just 7 years elder to him. I guess she always looks older than she actually is. But what an actor she is ! She plays the role to perfection, be it the young girl in a foreign country or the caring mother of two, and as a widow. Anyway, I do not want to add any more to this. However, I do want to say this film is a tribute to all the parents, the most selfless of God's creations. Aren't parents the most wonderful thing that has happened in everyone's life? It is most definitely true in my case. I hope it is not a cliche when I say I am what am today because of my parents.
To my parents who have made me what I am today and gave me everything that I have. Love you always.
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