A loving look at family conflict.
Director Mira Nair delivers a very well-told story with characters that engage you as you soak in the beautiful imagery. The story starts with the father (Irfan Khan) as a young man in India and quickly finds him getting married and returning to the United States with his new bride played by Tabu. It then takes on following the life of their son, Gogol (Kal Penn in a stunning performance), and his struggle living in modern American culture while trying to live up to his parents' expectations that he hold onto his Indian heritage and traditions. While you may feel the story line is familiar, this film is anything but typical - it draws you in with the wonderful acting and grand cinematography. It will make you laugh, cry, and feel the bonds between the members of the Namesake's family.