The Namesake - No Naam Ke Vaas

What happens when the dry westerly winds collide with moisture laden easterly winds? Do we call this the brewing of perfect storm or is it is just a passing summer shower? Will the winds be strong enough to blow off the duck back and drench our eyelashes and cheeks with saline water or just disappoint you with the high and dry feeling? Let us wait to find out.

Can a train journey, a conversation with a fellow passenger and the company of Nikolav Gogol’s book change the future of Ashok, simple middle class Bengali? Miracles do happen in simple journey. The very journey from Calcutta to Jamshedpur to visit his grandfather gives Ashok a second life, a life changing moment. The very Ashok who was recanting his grandfather’s words “Books make you travel the world without moving an inch” at the end of this train journey decides to travel the overseas in pursuit of his dreams. His dreams were nothing extraordinary. A Phd at an American University, sharing life with a beautiful Bengali girl, career as a professor, and dutiful father giving the best of life and opportunities for his children. It all comes true as Ashima, a beautiful Bengali Koel lends her shruti to his life sacrificing her life and passion. She faces the challenges of life as she crosses the bridge on river Hoogli and embarks her journey of life on Brooklyn bridge. Dripping icicles on the barren tree branches, a stage in between water and snow describes the frigid environment, the cause for her fluidity.

However hard one tries to transplant and thrive in the new soil, the genetic make up and the core can never be altered. Pangs of moving to a new city and settling in an alien culture, anxiety in retaining the cultural identity, Ashima tires hard to recreate Bengal in Brooklyn, and weaves a cultural cocoon around her.

How does it feel to grow up as “Gogol Ganguli” among Greg, Gretchen, and George? How does it feel to grow up with a western cheesecake while the core at home is the Bengali rasagulla? Like the cheese caught between the layers of sandwich Gogol melts within when taunted by his classmates and when chided by his parents for not being another Bengali kid. The cultural disconnect resonates within Gogol and Sonia and they are burdened by the cultural cross they are made to carry. Like every other NRI parents Ashok and Ashima bring their kids to educate them on the cultural richness of India. Sonali, the squeamish ABCD stays immiscible.

Amidst the back drop of the kids growing up and trips back home grey clouds gather on the horizon. Passing away of Ashima’s her father back home makes her worry about emptying hour glass of life and withering roots. She holds on to her husband and son for her emotional survival. With kids graduating and moving out of home, Ashima like every parent fall a prey to the empty nester syndrome. The protective Indian motherly feeling breaks out of the egg. She worries unduly about his son but is only disappointed when her calls are unanswered and never returned.

Gogol caught between the jaws of the western culture and Max (his girl friend) at one end and the ever disheartened Indian parents at the other end is tormented by guilt and confusion. Passing away of his father puts an end to Max’s chapter in his life and he decides to make his mother happy by marrying Moushmi, a girl of Bengali origin. With Sonia moving to the West coast and without Ashok and Gogol Ashima’s life plays plaintive notes.

Did someone say that only time can work its magic on our skin and attitude. When that happens no one knows how and why it happens? There is a stage in life where we relinquish our dreams and stop goading kids with our dreams and accept them as they are. Ashima was at the crossroads of her life. She breaks out of her cultural cocoon and accepts her American son-in-law Ben. Now that her kids are living their American dream life, she decides to spread her wings and watch their life from this side of the shore. Ashima liquidates the assets and flutter back to the grove where she belonged. Her life goes back to the same notes she sang before marriage, she gets an opportunity to relive her passion.

Gogol, the architect is disappointed when his dream of building Moushmi Mahal was thwarted. To him the very name Gogol and the author were total mockery and revulsion, but in the back drop of Moushmi leaving him for a French guy the author turns out to be meaningful teacher and his book becomes a bible and more. He decides to read the book and architect his life with real happiness, following his father’s footsteps.

The Namesake is a simple story that brings the clash of ethnic baggage, value system and sentiments on the silver screen. Be it Bengal or Brooklyn anyone who is deeply rooted in their culture and ethnicity feels lost and confused when transplanted in a foreign soil. Is it good to have a cultural and ethnic identity? Does it do more damage than good? Ashima’s quandary and experiences answers these questions in the movie.

• Mira has done a fine job in taking a difficult but ubiquitous subject and candidly presenting it without cloying. She weaves a delicate thread from cultural cocoon that becomes a powerful backdrop and a colorful tapestry for the movie. She scores an A+ making the right choice when with cast, camera and music.


• Tabu the right pick for Ashima’s role, showed maturity in her looks and in performance. The timbre of the lost soul was well reflected on her face all through out the movie. Was it Tabu or Shabana Asmi? She scores a lot of wow moments in the movie.


• Kal Penn playing as Gogol was a challenging role, given his ethnicity and cultural background. He brilliantly transforms from juvenile Gogol to mature young men traveling through eye of the storm. He scores a lot of awe moments.


• Not for namesake, cast sake, and story sake but it is a must watch movie for all those who have crossed oceans, traveled miles, and others who plan to do so.