The Namesake

A rare movie of rare quality, tha captures the dichotomies and life's nuances of the Bengali diaspora. I think the vignettes of the Bengali existence in a home away from home are never brought out better. I thought little of the book, but I guess relationships are so much better shown on celluloid. Mira Nair surpasses herself. Of special joy to me is that the movie was made at all, the laidback and somber Bengali NRI existence in stark contrast to the boisterous material Punjabi/ Gujju way of life. It is a statement in itself that overt aggression aside, quiet erudition and homily is also an idiom that exists and very much works. Two thumbs up