Follows two generations of a Bengali family from late-1970s Calcutta to nowadays New York City. Ashima (Tabu) and Ashoke (Khan)...
Follows two generations of a Bengali family from late-1970s Calcutta to nowadays New York City. Ashima (Tabu) and Ashoke (Khan) move to America in 1977 after their arranged marriage in Calcutta. The shy, polite newlyweds attempt to get to know each other, and make their way in the foreign country. As their US born son Gogol (Kal Penn) grows up, he rebels from his family, behaving like your typical American teenager. Gogol, becoming increasingly aware of his heritage, and his parents, attempt to balance a new world without forgetting the old.
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85 %136 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
79 %64,330 reviewsAudience score rating
"A richly compelling story of family and self-discovery..."
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Variety
Variety"The Namesake, adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri’s popular novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate..."
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The New York Times
The New York Times"This is a generational family saga everyone can relate to, and Nair gives it her special magic..."
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Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone"Solid but uninspired adaptation of a novel about the immigrant experience is held together by fine performances..."
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New Zealand Herald
New Zealand Herald"Despite being rooted in knotty issues of identity, Lahiri's novel forgoes didacticism in favor of vivid portraiture. Nair and her uniformly superb cast take the same tack: The characters are individuals before they are emblems..."
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times"This Indian immigrant family saga is a pleasant watch, but given the emotive source novel, it’s surprisingly superficial..."
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Empire Magazine
Empire Magazine"An intimate family saga that spans continents and generations yet stays close to the heart. An adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri's Pulitzer prize-winning novel, The Namesake stars Kal Penn as Gogol, a young Indian American whose Russian name provokes a personal identity crisis. Exploring the Asian American immigrant experience, this poignant tale resonates wherever you are placed in the world..."
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BBC
BBCThe Namesake | Details
- Runtime
- 122
- Genre
- Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Country of origin
- India, USA
