THE NAMESAKE (2007, U.S.A., 122 min.), directed by Mira Nair; screenplay by Sooni Tareporevala from the novel by Jhumpa Larhiri; cinematography by Frederick Elmes; music by Nitin Sawhney; edited by Allyson C. Johnson; with Kal Penn (Nikhil “Gogol” Ganguli), Tabu (Ashima Ganguli, his mother), Irrfan Khan (Ashoke Ganguli, his father), Sahira Nair (Sonia Ganguli, his sister), Jacinda Barrett (Maxine “Max” Ratliff), Zuleikha Robinson (Moushumi Mazumdar).

Please jot down answers to the following. You do not need to do longer answers this week.

1. Discuss the film title, identical to that of the book on which the film is based. What does the film have to say about the act of naming, about identity.

2. Following up on the previous questions, the film shows us two kinds of identities—received identity and consciously adopted identity. How does it handle this theme?

3. The film opens with the crash that will ultimately give Gogol his name. Why does the film open on the train, and why do we not get the full story of it at this time (the full story comes in a later flashback)? Why not open with Ashima and Ashoke’s meeting and save the crash for the flashback? What is the benefit of doing it this way?

4. Mira Nair has said that her goal in this film was to “make a portrait of two cities [Calcutta and New York] as if they are one. . . That is the state of being of someone who lives in many worlds, as I do.” What does she mean by this statement. Compare/contrast the two cities: Calcutta and New York (and notice how we see different sides of New York over the course of the film). Also, what is the role of bridges in the film? (We often see them in both cities.)

5. Now add in the Ganguli’s suburban home and Oyster Bay on Long Island where Max’s parents have their home. What do these settings add to the film?

6. What is Ashima like when we first meet her? Why do we see and hear her singing? Why does she try on her husband’s shoes? What is that all about?

7. Discuss the wedding scenes.

8. Now do the same for the lovemaking scenes. How does the lovemaking reflect the relationships between the lovers?

9. The story of Ashima and Ashoke is the story of a couple who grow as individuals and as partners. Discuss their growth.

10. Now discuss Gogol/Nikhil. What kind of guy is he? What does he want? How does he change over the course of the film?

11. Discuss Gogol’s love interests: Max and Moushumi. Why is he attracted to each, and why do these relationships not work out?

12. One of the repeated scenes is the scene on the jetty at the seaside. What is so special about that moment?

13. Another important scene is the scene at the Taj Mahal. What is special about it?

13. The film is edited in such a way that both geography and time are very fluid. What might be some examples of that? What is the effect of this fluidity?

14. Music is always of crucial importance in a Mira Nair film. What are some of the things that it accomplishes here?

15. What does the film have to say about the immigrant experience? About the conflict between tradition and modernity?

16. So, in what ways is this a Mira Nair film?

RETURN to ENG196.