Overview of namesake, the, 2006, directed by mira nair, with michael countryman, jhumpa lahiri, jagannath guha, at turner classic movies. Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was packaged by the manufacturer in nonretail packaging, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. The namesake is based on a bestselling 2003 novel by jhumpa lahiri and has been beautifully adapted for the screen by sooni taraporevala. A life between two worlds march 9, 2007 in the namesake, the film based on the bestselling novel by jhumpa lahiri, a family from india struggles with the immigrant. It stars tabu, irrfan khan, kal penn and sahira nair. Buy the namesake directed by mira nair online at alibris. Attentive to surfaces as well as nuances, mira nair s adaptation of jhumpa lahiris novel, the namesake, is about legacies and responsibilities, ambitions and dislocations. Among her best known films are mississippi masala, kama sutra. Director mira nair vanity fair, a monsoon wedding does an incredible job telling this complicated story that spans two continents and two generations. Mira nair s essay, photographs as inspiration, begins with the provocative comment.
I began thinking of some of the characters about a decade ago, soon after i finished my first book, and before i really even began working on my novel, the namesake, which came after that first. Based on a novel by jhumpa lahiri, the namesake explores life in a cold, foreign land and how a family comes together to deal with it, something that is both comforting, and constricting for. Sahira nair as sonia ganguli glenne headly as lydia ratliff daniel gerroll as gerald ratliff 122 minutesrated pg for sexualitynudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language. Structurally, it constructs identification with the parents, allowing the viewer to see them in ways that their son gogol and daughter sonia sahira nair do not. Based on a wellreceived novel, the story revolves around a bengali family whose mother and father have immigrated to america to give their children an opportunity for a life with limitless possibilities. I saw the namesake at the 22nd october screening at the london film festival. The international indian film academy awards takes place in toronto from june 2325.
The film was released in the united states on 9 march 2007, following screenings at film festivals in toronto and new york. The film club is screening mira nairs the namesake on monday, june. Kal penn as gogol ganguli irfan khan as ashoke ganguli tabu as ashima ganguli jacinda barrett as maxine ratliff zuleikha robinson as moushumi mazumdar sahira nair as sonia ganguli glenne headly as lydia ratliff daniel gerroll as. Gogol is the namesake and epicenter of the book, but the filmmakers give. The namesake, adapted by sooni taraporevala from a book by the pulitzer prizewinning novelist jhumpa lahiri, is about the hopes, disappointments, pains and consolations of life over some 40 years. Original essays and glorious photography, stunningly designed in this unique moviebook from the director of monsoon wedding and vanity fair a fox searchlight release. This is a great event for fans of indian cinema and the north york central library film club is joining in the celebration.
The namesake is an interesting look at two generations of a family that moved from india to the united states. The namesake 12 directed by mira nair written by sooni taraporevala, based on the novel by jhumpa lahiri starring. The major focus of the movie is on the son kal penn born in new york and named gogol after the russian author. There is a brilliant use of nostalgia and memory as a major theme in the film, and its work to the films strengths in evoking a lot of emotion and evolving several character arcs. After everyone going gaga over this book, i finally decided to give it a read. In 2007, nair was asked to direct harry potter and the order of the phoenix, but turned it down to work on the namesake. Kal penn, irrfan khan, sahira nair and tabu in the namesake. The namesake directed by mira nair available on dvd. While the parents maintain the customs of their bengali heritage, the two children. Kal penn, tabu, irrfan khan, sahira nair, jagannath guha, dhruv mookerji. The namesake, from indian director mira nair, reminds us of a film axiom. The namesake is not niche in any sense of the word. Willem dafoe at an event for the namesake 2006 tabu at an event for the namesake. Mira nair and irrfan khan at the premiere of the namesake in new delhi.
At first it is arguable that the main character is very unlikable as played by kal penn, however he goes on a journey through the film that further humanizes him. I read the namesake about two months ago when i found out that there was a movie version coming out very soon. Nair s ambitious the namesake is her adaptation of the national book awardwinning novel by jhumpa lahiri, telling of the journey of an indianamerican architect and his parents from calcutta to new york. Mar 28, 2007 a special the namesake conversation between the director mira nair and the novelist jhumpa lahiri. Mira nair mira nairs the namesake, adapted from the jhumpa lahiri novel of the same name, tells the story of two generations of the ganguli family, providing a glimpse at the immigrant experience in america. A portrait of the film based on the novel by jhumpa lahiri.
The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. Sahira nair photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behindthescenes, and more. The namesake by mira nair kal penn, tabu, irfan khan. Jhumpa lahiris very popular novel the namesake has been successfully adapted for the screen by sooni taraporevala and the gifted director mira nair has gathered a fine cast to capture the spirit of the original story of family commitment despite cultural changes and challenges. The namesake by jhumpa lahiri book club discussion. I admit that i loved the book, and therefore have been looking forward to this film for a while. Irfan khan, tabu, kal penn, sahira nair, jacinda barrett. If it werent for photography, i wouldnt be a filmmaker. It was one of the most memorable roles khan played as. The book looks at the themes of family, identity, parental love, and nostalgia. Above all, we loved namesakes poignant story of two bengali immigrants to the u. He received recognition for his roles in the warrior 2001, maqbool 2003, haasil 2004, the namesake 2006, a mighty heart 2007, slumdog millionaire 2008, billu 2009, new york 2009, new.
Mira nair s the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate. After gogol comes daughter sonia sahira nair, monsoon wedding and a. With exceptional performances, a perfectionist directors. Even so, and due to being born in the states, both kids are far more comfortable with american culture than their parents. Its a tie between jhumpa lahiris the namesake and mira nairs screen version a novel that details the generational confusions of an immigrant family. The novel was adapted into a movie starring tabu, irrfan khan, kal penn, and sahira nair in 2006. Sahira nair is known for her work on the darjeeling limited 2007, monsoon wedding 2001 and the namesake 2006. Nairs ambitious the namesake is her adaptation of the national book awardwinning novel by jhumpa lahiri, telling of the journey of an indianamerican architect and his parents from calcutta to new york. Above all, we loved namesake s poignant story of two bengali immigrants to the u. Lets give covid a break and read this interview with actor kal penn, who played irrfan khans son in mira nairs 2006 film, the namesake. Kal penn, tabu, irfan khan, jacinda barrett, sahira nair, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith directed by. All actors kal penn, tabu, irrfan khan, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith, sahira nair, jagannath guha, ruma guha thakurta, sandip deb, sukanya, tanushree shankar show all the namesake quotes 7 quotes. Theatre and television kept him afloat until mira nair offered him a cameo in salaam bombay 1988 though his role was edited out in the final film. Ashoke smiles, my grandfather said thats what books are for, to travel without moving an inch.
Apr 29, 2020 the filmmaker mira nair first tried to get irrfan khan to appear in one of her movies when he was a drama student in delhi. Beauty, heritage span the continents in namesake movie. Apr 30, 2007 the namesake starts by establishing how ashoke ganguli irfan khan and his wife ashima tabu met, moved to the united states, and then started a family. Gogol returns home to help ashima pack the house when he finds the book ashoke gave him as a. Mar 09, 2007 mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are far more complex than their words might indicate. The film revolves around the life of a boy born to indian immigrants who tries to fit in with new yorkers. Mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a. From here the story is supposed to belong to the gangulis hyphenated american children, gogol kal penn. She explains how photographs help her crystallize the visual style of her films and which particular photos influenced her vision for the namesake.
Like her previous films vanity fair, monsoon wedding, and hbos hysterical blindness, mira nairs the namesake is a lush, beautiful film bursting with rich color and visual texture. The namesake is a bittersweet tail of self acceptance and family. A tale of love, and hysterical blindness jhumpa lahiri, the author of interpreter of maladies and the namesake, has been the recipient of the pulitzer prize, the penhemingway award, and a guggenheim. Mira nair born 15 october 1957 is an indianamerican filmmaker based in new york city. Mira nair introduced the film, along with nitin sawhney, who wrote the score. And while the substantial part she offered him in salaam bombay. The namesake is probably not the kind of film to attract the 15 to 24 male demographic theyre still lining up to see 300 but it does have thoughtful appeal for the mature moviegoer. Mira nairs the namesake, based on jhumpa lahiris novel, conveys a palpable sense of people as living, breathing creatures who are.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Kal penn, irrfan khan, tabu, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith, sahira nair, jagannath guha, ruma guha thakurta. In the lead role is kal penn, here rescued from the dumb comedies he has been trapped in since he played a certain burgerseeking new jerseyite. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. It shows the americanization of the parents and children in a not too flattering light. Although im not a big fan of the way books culminate, most of the. The struggle that ashoke and ashima face in raising their children is in passing along the values of indian culture.
Apr 01, 2007 the namesake, adapted by sooni taraporevala from a book by the pulitzer prizewinning novelist jhumpa lahiri, is about the hopes, disappointments, pains and consolations of life over some 40 years. In this moment, amid wreckage and noise and moaning survivors, the namesake begins again. Starring kal penn yes, the guy from the harold and kumar films, tabu, irrfan khan, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, and sahira nair, this touching film explores how a firstgeneration immigrant family from. A portrait of the film based on the novel by jhumpa lahiri newmarket pictorial moviebooks mira nair, jhumpa lahiri on.
But gogol and his sister, sonia played by sahira nair, suit the story that ms. The filmmaker mira nair first tried to get irrfan khan to appear in one of her movies when he was a drama student in delhi. Born in america to emigres from calcutta, gogol is a protagonist who endures years of teenage alienation in the namesake, a film adapted from the 2003 bestseller by jhumpa lahiri. One of the most memorable roles irrfan khan played was ashoke ganguli in mira nairs the namesake and one of the most memorable lines he said in that film was to his son, gogol. A focus is certainly on gogol and his father, but the mothers perspective, her memories of india, her feelings when her marriage was arranged and her first impressions of her new life the namesake. Based on the book by pulitzer prizewinner jhumpa lahiri, sooni taraporevala s screenplay follows the son of indian immigrants who wants to fit in with new york society, but struggles to get away from his familys traditional ways. The lowestpriced brandnew, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging where packaging is applicable. May 31, 2011 the film club is screening mira nair s the namesake on monday, june at 6. The film was produced by indian, american and japanese studios. Some of the best movies about the american experience. Nairs the namesake follows an indian national and his arranged bride during their first fledgling months in snowy new york, eventually transitioning into the story of their adult son kal penn coming to. The family shifts to america from calcutta and thus the story starts unravelling. Some of the best movies about the american experience have come from filmmakers born.
Head film critic for mountain xpress from december 2000 until his death in june 2016. Jhumpa lahiris 2003 novel the namesake begins with gogols birth in a. The namesake 2006 five offbeat movies by tabu you must. Attentive to surfaces as well as nuances, mira nairs adaptation of jhumpa lahiris novel, the namesake, is about legacies and responsibilities, ambitions and dislocations. Mira nair s new film, the namesake, seeks to expound on that idea by showing how a family can live through, overcome, and circumvent them. The namesake directed by mira nair available on dvd alibris. Finding america, losing home pulitzer prize winning author jhumpa lahiris discusses unaccustomed earth, her new collection of short stories. Kal penn, irrfan khan, tabu, jacinda barrett, zuleikha robinson, brooke smith, sahira nair, jagannath guha, ruma guha thakurta, sandip deb. Based on the bestselling book by jhumpa lahiri, the. The namesake 2006 hindi film bollywood movie indian cinema dvd. The namesake is a 2006 englishlanguage drama film directed by mira nair and written by sooni taraporevala based on the novel the namesake by jhumpa lahiri. Mira nair proves, once again, that she is a world class filmmaker. The namesake is a diasporic novel that traces the story of the ganguli family. Although im not a big fan of the way books culminate.
The namesake starts by establishing how ashoke ganguli irfan khan and his wife ashima tabu met, moved to the united states, and then started a family. Ashoke ganguli irfan khan and his wife ashima tabu and their two america born children gogol kal penn and sonia sahira nair. The namesake is a family drama about the gangulis, who came to usa from india in order to experience a world of limitless opportunities. A special the namesake conversation between the director mira nair and the novelist jhumpa lahiri. Years later, gogol kal penn is a teen who gets grief from others about his name, unlike his younger sister, sonia sahira nair. Americanborn gogol, the son of indian immigrants, wants to fit in among his fellow new yorkers, despite his familys unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. To get the technical side of the film out of the way, the namesake is exquisitely done. Quiet and respectful, their exchange lasts only a minute or two. Jan 04, 2008 ashoke and ashima move to the burbs and have children, a daughter named sonia sahira nair and a son named gogol kal penn, after ashokes fateful book, a secret he never shares with anyone. Mira nair is the internationally acclaimed director of monsoon wedding, salaam bombay. Her production company, mirabai films, specializes in films for international audiences on indian society, whether in the economic, social or cultural spheres. Author of books ken russells films, charlie chan at the movies, a critical guide to horror film series.
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