The Namesake (2007): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Namesake is a 2007 drama directed by Mira Nair, starring Tabu, Irrfan Khan and Kal Penn. It is based on The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes and earned $20.4 million worldwide on a $9.5 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Male at the Spirit Awards 2008. Critics gave it 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 2m (122 min)
- Director
- Mira Nair
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- Budget
- $9.5M
- Based on
- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Namesake About?
The premise of The Namesake without spoilers, adapted from The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A poignant story of cultural identity, this film follows the Ganguli family as they experience the challenges of adapting to a new life in America while honoring their Indian heritage. Ashoke and Ashima strive to build a future for their children, but their son, Gogol, struggles to reconcile his personal aspirations with the traditions of his family and the meaning behind his unusual name. The film explores themes of belonging, family, and the complexities of growing up between two worlds.
The Namesake Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- train
- new york city
- india
- book
- bengali
- 1990s
- 1980s
- 1970s
- librarian
- reference to gogol
- immigration
- husband wife relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- calcutta india
- arranged marriage
- train crash
- culture clash
- namesake
- name change
- indian american
- man wears eyeglasses
- female rear nudity
- ganges river
- marital infidelity
- unfaithful wife
- man shaves his head
- woman wears a man's shoes
- female singer
- written and directed by female
- bare chested male
- implied sex
- title directed by female
- female director
- female filmmaker
- cigarette smoking
- flatulence
- movies for teens
- rated pg 13 movies
- son
- live action
- taj mahal
- parents
- death
- william wordsworth quotation
- ohio
- wedding night
- reciting poetry
- repatriation
- reference to joseph campbell
- extramarital affair
- first date
The Namesake Cast
Tabu leads the cast, with Irrfan Khan and Kal Penn. Directed by Mira Nair.
-
Director Mira Nair
More from Mira Nair
More films directed by Mira Nair, best-rated first: Monsoon Wedding, Queen of Katwe, Mississippi Masala and September 11.
The Namesake Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Namesake 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 7.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
The Namesake Plot Summary
What happens in The Namesake from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens with a train accident whose impact will gradually unfold. Ashima, portrayed by Tabu, is a young Bengali girl skilled in classical singing, who finds herself in an arranged marriage with Ashoke Ganguli, played by Irrfan Khan, a Bengali man settled in New York. After leaving her homeland and family behind, Ashima strives to adapt to the fast-paced lifestyle of New York, grappling with the challenges of cultural differences, harsh weather, and a cramped apartment where she feels isolated from her neighbors. As Ashoke dedicates his time to studying and working long hours, Ashima frequently battles loneliness.
Full summary
The whole story of The Namesake, scene by scene
The Namesake Box Office & Budget
The Namesake grossed $20.4 million worldwide on a $9.5 million budget, 2.1 times what it cost. $13.6 million came from the US and Canada and $6.8 million (33%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$20.4M
2.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $13.6M
- International
- $6.8M
- Budget
- $9.5M
The Namesake Awards & Nominations
The Namesake earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Male at the Spirit Awards 2008.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Spirit Awards 2008 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Male – Irrfan Khan
The Namesake Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer The Namesake Trailer (Unofficial)
How Well Do You Know The Namesake?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of Ashoke and Ashima's son?
Cars in The Namesake
14 cars on screen, including the 1986 Volvo 240 and the Ford Focus.
-
1986 Volvo 240 Important role -
Ford Focus Minor role -
1992 Hindustan Ambassador 1800 ISZ Minor role -
1980 Buick Century Background role
The Namesake Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “O Bom Nome” and “Il destino nel nome - The Namesake”.
- Also known as
-
- O Bom Nome
- Il destino nel nome - The Namesake
- Un nom pour un autre
- El buen nombre
- Namesake - Zwei Welten
- Eine Reise
- Jmenovec
- Idegen név
- Тезки
- עניין של שם
- Името
- Imiennik
+6 more Show fewer
- 이름 뒤에 숨은 사랑
- 同名人
- Adaş, სეხნია
- หนึ่งดวงใจ สองสายเลือด
- Nome de Família
- 同名之人
Seen The Namesake?
Movies Like The Namesake
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kapoor and Sons, The Bengali Night and Sangam.
The Namesake FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Namesake, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Namesake?
The Namesake runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).
When was The Namesake released?
The Namesake was released on March 9, 2007.
Who directed The Namesake?
The Namesake was directed by Mira Nair.
More films by Mira Nair Who is in the cast of The Namesake?
The Namesake stars Tabu, Irrfan Khan and Kal Penn.
How much did The Namesake make at the box office?
The Namesake grossed $20.4 million worldwide ($13.6 million domestic, $6.8 million international) on a budget of $9.5 million.
How is The Namesake rated?
The Namesake has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 82 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Is The Namesake based on a book?
Yes. The Namesake is adapted from The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Was The Namesake nominated for any awards?
The Namesake received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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