Bengali Ashoke Ganguli (Irrfan Khan), a graduate student in NYC, returns to his native India to take his arranged bride, aspiring singer Ashima (Tabu) in all the tradition of their culture. He returns to the USA with his bride and they settle into to raising a family and his pursuit of professorship. Their first born, a son, Gogol (Kal Penn), is named for Russian author Nikolai Gogol, Shortly after, their daughter Sonia (Sahira Nair) is born.
Gogol and Sonia grow up as rather indulged, securely middle class Americans and, in the process, reject much of the tradition of their parents and their parents Bengali friends who live nearby. Gogol, in pretty much typical American teen/young adult fashion, grows distainful of his "odd" name and critical of his parents' choices. He wants nothing to do with the old ways and even has a blonde, blue-eyed American girlfriend, Maxine (Jacinda Barrett) and takes the name Nikhil, or Nicky to his friends.
Nicky continues to distance himself from his parents and their Old World ways -- until tragedy strikes and he must come to terms with his culture and heritage like a man.
Such a tender and well done film spanning several decades of a family. Superb acting and a wonderful insight into the culture of India.
Directed by Mira Nair.
Rated PG-13 for sexuality/nudity, a scene of drug use, some disturbing images and brief language.
My personal rating: B
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