IMDb >
The Namesake (2006)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Namesake (2006) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 39 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 16) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
9 March 2007 (USA)
more
Tagline:
Two Worlds. One Journey. more
Plot:
American-born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers, despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win
&
3 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(49 articles)
Madhur Bhandarkar felicitated at Cairo
(From BollywoodHungama. 24 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
Madhur Bhandarkar felicitated at Cairo
(From BollywoodHungama. 24 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
(From BollywoodHungama. 24 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
Madhur Bhandarkar felicitated at Cairo
(From BollywoodHungama. 24 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
Entertaining and universal
more (103 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Kal Penn | ... | Gogol / Nikhil | |
| Tabu | ... | Ashima | |
| Irrfan Khan | ... | Ashoke | |
| Jacinda Barrett | ... | Maxine | |
| Zuleikha Robinson | ... | Moushumi Mazumdar | |
| Brooke Smith | ... | Sally | |
| Sahira Nair | ... | Sonia | |
| Jagannath Guha | ... | Ghosh | |
| Ruma Guha Thakurta | ... | Ashoke's Mother | |
| Sandip Deb | ... | Music Teacher | |
| Sukanya | ... | Rini | |
| Tanushree Shankar | ... | Ashima's Mother | |
| Sabyasachi Chakraborty | ... | Ashima's Father | |
| Tamal Ray Chowdhury | ... | Ashoke's Father | |
| Dhruv Mookerji | ... | Rana |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
122 min
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG-13 |
Ireland:12A |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) |
Netherlands:12 |
Germany:6 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Brazil:12 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Finland:K-11 |
Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) |
New Zealand:M |
South Korea:15 |
Norway:11
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
According to Kal Penn during an interview on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Mira Nair's son and his good friend, who are fans of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, were adamant that she cast him as Gogol.
more
Goofs:
Factual errors: The baby used to portray the newborn Gogol is not a newborn. He is clearly at least 2-3 months old, if not older.
more
Quotes:
Gogol Ganguli:
Who's Pierre?
[silence]
Gogol Ganguli: Are you having an affair?
[more silence]
Moushumi Mazumdar: Maybe it's not enough that we are both Bengali.
Gogol Ganguli: That's not why I love you.
more
[silence]
Gogol Ganguli: Are you having an affair?
[more silence]
Moushumi Mazumdar: Maybe it's not enough that we are both Bengali.
Gogol Ganguli: That's not why I love you.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-03-10)" (2007)
more
Soundtrack:
Baul Song
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (103 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Namesake (2006) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Water | Giant | The Good Earth | The Kite Runner | The River |
|
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
IMDb User Rating: |
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb India section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |





















Just got home from the Sept 11, 2006 official world premiere screening of The Namesake at the Elgin Theatre at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.
Director Mira Nair briefly introduced the film by saying that it was her most personal project as she herself lived in Kolkata for 12 years and then in New York City for 25 (the 2 cities that the characters in the film travel between as well). She dedicated the film to the legendary directors Ritwick Ghatak and Satyajit Ray. She introduced the actress Tabu who said a few words about how grateful she was to work on the project, especially as it helped her to understand her own mother better. Director Karan Johar and actor Amitabh Bachchan (who is not in this film, but a guest at the screening) also happened to be in attendance in the audience and were introduced to warm applause.
I better admit right off the bat that I went to see the film based simply on how much I've enjoyed Mira Nair's films in the past. I did not know the work of the veteran Indian actors or the work of the younger American based cast. I was aware that Kal Penn has acted in several teenage and/or stoner comedies but I've never actually seen those films so have no preconceptions about his work. And I've only seen maybe a dozen Bollywood films in my life, just enough to know that the scenes of kissing in The Namesake would not be acceptable to a traditional crowd. Also, I have not read the book that the film is based on, although having enjoyed the film as much as I did, I definitely intend to read it as soon as possible (in fact we picked up 2 copies on the way home).
OK, so after getting all of that out the way, maybe some will take my views with a grain of salt as they might feel that I am not qualified to comment, but I found this to be an all round entertaining and enjoyable film that made your heart ache for the different characters at various times and that hit all the right notes along the way. The casting seemed all-round perfect and everyone was completely believable in their roles. Kal Penn was absolutely solid in his part and grew from a young surly teenager to a confused young man to a mature adult. In the role of the parents both Tabu and Irfan Khan were thoroughly believable as a young arranged marriage couple in Kolkata who moved to America to build a new life and who aged together gracefully with lifes ups and down on the way. Tabu carried more of the weight here and was just gorgeous as a young bride and grew into a mother with many cares but who held herself with dignity throughout. Her acting even just with her eyes was just wonderful to watch. All of the technical aspects, the cinematography, costuming, locations, set decoration, and soundtrack etc. were equally impressive. The theme of family and the search for one's self are universal and are all well communicated in this film. The sense in the room of the theatre was that everyone was identifying with the film throughout (the audience was maybe 15-20% of South Asian heritage - with the rest a mixed Canadian Toronto and film festival crowd) and the occasional jokes and visual gags all went over to great enthusiastic laughter.
I encourage everyone to see it when it opens in general release. So far only this and Babel and Paris Je T'aime have earned a 10/10 from me at this year's TIFF.