THE NAMESAKE is the story of the Ganguli
family whose move from Calcutta to New York evokes a
lifelong balancing act to meld to a new world without
forgetting the old. Though parents Ashoke and Ashima (Irrfan
Khan, Tabu) long for the family and culture that enveloped
them in India, they take great pride in the opportunities
their sacrifices have afforded their children.
Paradoxically, their son Gogol (Kal Penn) is torn between
finding his own unique identity without losing his heritage.
Even Gogol’s name represents the family’s journey into the
unknown.
Helmed by the Academy Award®-nominated Mira Nair, THE
NAMESAKE is based on the best-selling novel of the same name
by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. The film’s
screen adaptation was penned by Sooni Taraporevala, with
whom Nair previously collaborated on MISSISSIPPI MASALA and
the Oscar®-nominated SALAAM BOMBAY!
Mira Nair’s debut feature film, SALAAM BOMBAY! was nominated
for an Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film in
1988, and won the Camera D'Or and Prix du Publique at the
Cannes Film Festival as well as 25 other international
awards. MISSISSIPPI MASALA won three awards at the Venice
Film Festival including Best Screenplay and The Audience
Choice Award. MONSOON WEDDING won the Golden Lion at the
2001 Venice Film Festival, was nominated for a Golden Globe®
for Best Foreign Language Film and opened worldwide to
tremendous critical and commercial acclaim. Nair directed
the HBO original film “Hysterical Blindness,” which received
great critical acclaim and garnered a Golden Globe for Uma
Thurman and three Emmy Awards®. The film is produced by
Lydia Dean Pilcher with whom Nair partnered on the
“Hysterical Blindness” as well as last year’s VANITY FAIR,
and Nair.
© 2006 Fox Searchlight Pictures .
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