The Namesake (2006)
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Cast
as Ashoke
as Gogol Ganguli
as Ghosh
as Ashima Ganguli
as Ashoke's Mother
as Moushumi
as Music Teacher
as Rini
as Mr. Lawson
as Sally
as Ashima's Mother
as Ashima's Father
as Lydia
as Jerry
as Marc
as Phone Operator
as Ms. Lu
as Funeral Priest
as Baby Sonia
as Oliver
as Edith
as Viola
as Donald
as Pierre
as Ben
as Reformed Hindoo
as Ashima's Grandmother
as Sonia
as Crazy Wino
as Nurse Patty
as Mr. Wilcox
as Dr. Gupta
as Uncle
as Gogol--Age 4
as Bart
as Jason
as Mr. Mazumdar
as Mrs. Mazumdar
as Baul Singer
as Chotu
as Pam
as Hotel Manager
as Blake
as Maxine
as Ashoke's Father
as Rana
as Kajol Mashi
as Jhumpa Mashi
as Astrid
as Mira Mashi
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Critic Reviews for The Namesake
All Critics (128) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (111) | Rotten (17) | DVD (5)
What holds it together are the subtle loving performances by Tabu and Khan, both Bollywoood stars. They never overplay, never spell out what can be said in a glance or a shrug, communicate great passion very quietly.
It is a saga told in small pieces, a patchwork of short scenes that tumble after each other almost apologetically, as if they would love to linger a little longer, but there is too much to tell and only so much time in which to do it.
Penn is just wrong for it.
Intelligent and insightful, The Namesake celebrates family in a unique way.
This is a wonderful movie.
A moving generational drama focusing on a Bengali family but searingly universal in its subtle, tender grasp of love, regret and the search for identity.
Audience Reviews for The Namesake
A beautiful journey through places, times, and mainly the souls of a group of fascinating people, struggling to find themselves in the midst of all the changes that come with life.
Super Reviewer
This film, about a young Bengali American wrestling with a cultural identity crisis, is a nice take on the culture clash/cultural identity film, and also marks a nice change of pace for Kal Penn. True, he had a serious role on House, but there was also a lot of humor.This is a more mature work for him, even though Gogol isn't too far removed from Kumar. Gogol is more smart and serious though. All the cliched words like touching, heartwarming, etc apply here, and the film hits some familair beats, but it's not totally unoriginal thanks to how everything is conducted and presented. This is obviously a labor of love for Nair, and she does a great job, especially since she can relate to the material. All of the perforances are terrific, but Penn, Tabu, and Khan are the real strong points here. Give this one a shot. It's far from brilliant or new, but it is well played, and gives some welcome portrayals of India and Indian culture.
Super Reviewer
A beautiful film, great screenplay and direction that brings a terrific cast. Fresh.
Super Reviewer
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