The Namesake

'Harold and Kumar' star Kal Penn in a dramatic change of pace

By Brett Buckalew | Metromix

March 30, 2007

Adapting a decades-spanning novel into a two-hour movie is a tricky feat, and "The Namesake," based upon a book by Jhumpa Lahiri, sometimes strains under the effort. Writer Sooni Taraporevala's adaptation jumps over time periods so quickly it can cause disorientation. In many other ways, however, the film demonstrates what can go so right in making the leap from page to screen.

In this story of several generations of the Indian-born Ganguli clan, the characters have a depth and richness usually found in an epic novel, and the filmmakers explore themes of cultural assimilation and generational miscommunication with insight and complexity.

Patriarch Ashoke (Irrfan Khan) moves with his wife-through-arranged-marriage, Ashima (Tabu), from India to the U.S., where he has found work. Ashima soon gives birth to a son, whose "pet name" of Gogol sticks to him more than his official name, Nikhil. As Gogol (played as a young man by Kal Penn, of "Harold and Kumar" fame) enters his teen years, he comes to resent his foreign-sounding name, and his American-bred views distance him from his traditionalist parents. It's only as an adult, once he is rocked by tragedy, that Gogol comes to understand the importance of his background and moniker.

A trio of touching performances enliven this dense family saga. Penn's subtlety in a dramatic role may surprise those who know him only as a White Castle–scarfing clown. Khan brings quiet dignity to the role of Ashoke, while Tabu movingly conveys Ashima's feelings of dislocation. Both actors hail from India's Bollywood film industry and, based on their performances here, should have no difficulty landing more work stateside.

Director Mira Nair infuses the film with the humanity and visual vibrancy she previously brought to the arthouse hit "Monsoon Wedding," making "Namesake" a thoughtful, worthy addition to her body of work.