AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN WEST AND EAST FACED BY ASHIMA GANGULI IN MIRA NAIR’S FILM “THE NAMESAKE”

(1)

AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN

WEST AND EAST FACED BY ASHIMA GANGULI

IN MIRA NAIR

’S FILM “THE NAMESAKE”

THESIS

BY:

RIKA YULIANITA

08360077

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

(2)

AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN

WEST AND EAST FACED BY ASHIMA GANGULI

IN MIRA NAIR

’S FILM “THE NAMESAKE”

THESIS

This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve

Sarjana Degree in English Education

BY:

RIKA YULIANITA

08360077

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

(3)

This thesis written by Rika Yulianita was approved on November 14

th

, 2012

By:

Advisor I,

Advisor II,

(4)

This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher

Training and Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang

and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve

Sarjana Degree in English Education

on November 14

th

, 2012

Approved by:

Faculty of Teacher Training and Education

University of Muhammadiyah Malang

Dean,

Dr. M. Syaifuddin, M.M.

Examiners:

Signatures:

1. Bayu Hendro Wicaksono, S.Pd, M.Ed, Ph.D

1………

2. Dian Arsitades, M.Pd

2………

3. Dr. Sri Hartiningsih, M.M

3………

(5)

MOTTO AND DEDICATION

“SESUNGGUHNYA SETELAH KESULITAN ITU ADA KEMUDAHAN”

(QS. AL-INSYIRAH; 6)

“LIFE IS CHOICE”

“WAKTU ITU IBARAT PEDANG, BILA KITA TIDAK

BISA MENGGUNAKAN DENGAN BAIK MAKA

AKAN MEMBUNU

H DIRI KITA SENDIRI”

(6)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Alhamdulillah, the greatest thanks belongs to Allah SWT for his mercy,

guidance, blessing and affection so she could finish this final requirement to achieve

sarjana degree in English Education at University of Muhammadiyah Malang.

Sholawat and salam is always given to prophet Muhammad SAW who brought the

lightness from the darkness.

First of all, the writer would like to address her sincere gratitude to her first

advisor Dr. Sri Hartiningsih, M.M and her second advisor Dra. Thathit Manon

Andini, M.Hum, for their patience and guidance during the entire process of

consultation period, their comment, criticism and advice become the most valuable

thing in composing this thesis.

The writer also would like to express her appreciation to her beloved family,

who always pray and support her in happiness and sorrow so that she can finish this

thesis.

Special thanks to Setiawan Aribowo thanks for all the time, support, and care.

The writer also thanks to all of her friend, Ervin, Mita, Murni, Nurul, Novi, Nita,

Lely, Marda, Tyas, Melinda, fika, Yuli, and Dini, all her friends in boarding house

“Cabig” and “Cacil“ thanks for the

laugh, care and support.

Malang, November 2012

(7)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER ... i

APPROVAL ... ii

LEGALIZATION ... iii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION ... iv

ABSTRACT ... v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ... vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study ... 1

1.2. Statement of the Problem ... 3

1.3. Purpose of the Study ... 4

1.4. Significance of the Study ... 4

1.5. Scope and Limitation ... 5

1.6. Definition of the Key Terms ... 5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Literature ... 7

2.2. Film ... 8

2.3. Kinds of Film ... 9

2.3.1

Action

–

Advanture Film ... 9

2.3.2 Comedy Film ... 9

2.3.3 Crime Film ... 10

2.3.4 Documentary Film ... 10

2.3.5 Drama Film ... 10

2.3.6 Historical Film ... 11

(8)

2.3.8 Musical Film ... 11

2.3.9 Romance Film ... 12

2.3.10 War Film ... 12

2.4 Element of Film ... 12

2.4.1. Character ... 13

2.4.2 Soliloquy, Monologue, and Dialogue ... 14

2.4.3 Action ... 14

2.4.4 Plot ... 15

2.4.5 Setting ... 16

2.4.6 Conflict ... 17

2.4.7 Theme ... 17

2.5 Culture ... 18

2.5.1. The Definition of Culture ... 18

2.5.2 The Elements of Culture ... 19

2.5.3. Cultural Problems ... 20

2.5.4. The Effect of Cultural Problems ... 21

2.5.5. Overcoming Cultural Problems ... 22

2.6 West and East Culture ... 24

CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design ... 26

3.2 Research Approach ... 27

3.2.1

Mimetic Approach ... 27

3.2.2 Pragmatic Approach ... 27

3.2.3 Expressive Approach ... 28

3.2.4 Objective Approach ... 28

3.3 Object of The Study ... 28

(9)

3.5 Data Analysis ... 29

CHAPTER IV: RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Research Findings ... 30

4.1.1 The Cultural Problems between West and East Faced by Ashima

Ganguli ... 31

4.1.2. The effects of Cultural Problems Between West and East Faced

by Ashima Ganguli ... 40

4.1.3.

Ashima’s ways to Overcome her Cultural Problems

... 46

4.2 Discussion ... 53

4.3 Lesson ... 54

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

5.1 Conclusion ... 55

5.2 Suggestion ... 56

(10)

APPENDIXES

THE SYNOPSIS OF “THE NAMESAKE” FILM

“The namesake” film tells about a spouse Ashima Ganguli and her husband

Ashoke Ganguli. They were Indian. They had an arranged married. After they had an

arranged married they moved to America. Ashoke worked in America as a lecturer.

So, Ashima moved to America. There, she faced many cultural differences between

America and India. Because of those differences, Ashima faced the cultural

problems. She had long-suffering adaptation to life in America. She lived as

immigrants in America; she should adapt to the environment. After they lived in

America, Ashima was pregnant and she wanted to give birth in the hospital. In

keeping with the family tradition of India, giving the name of the child will be given

by the grandmother of the mother, so they do not need to look for a name for their

child. But until the birth of the baby, a letter from India which contains the name did

not arrive. Ashoke and Ashima was panic when they would bring the baby home

from the hospital because the hospital’s system in America required that every

newborn to make the birth certificate and it needed a name, while Ashoke and

Ashima determined to give their child a name with the name of a gift from India. In

the mi

dst of the panic that emerged the name "Gogol" came from the Ashoke’s idea.

It is a name which is unusual for Bengali families. The tragical story of Ashoke is

(11)

Young Ashoke wherever he goes always bring a book, a day when Ashoke on his

way to his grandfather's house by train, He got an accidents, fortunately Ashoke was

reading a novel when the accident occurred and among the victim of accident,

rescuers found Ashoke. He was waving tear books. Nikoli Gogol is the author of the

book. At first Gogol still felt comfortable with the name gave by his father, until

when Gogol started growing up he felt something wrong with his name. It made him

hate the name Gogol. He asked his father why he did not give a name to the names of

India or America generally. In the school, Gogol knew the tragic life story of Nikoli

Gogol, who died young because of psychiatric illness. Various events were as the

rainbow which was coloring the life of this little family until the birth of their second

child, Sonia. Ashoke career progression as Lecturer requiring them to move out of

the city of Cambridge to Boston, while Ashima stay at home as a housewife who took

care of the household while teach the Indian culture to their children. Ashima still

wore a sari as everyday clothes, still performed religious rituals and she always

cooked for her family. Like two sides of a coin, Gogol lived his own life, he spent

childhood, adolescents and adults as young Americans in general, more felt pleasure

from playing white disc album of The Beatles than music from Bengali dish, drank

alcohol, and smoked. Gogol felt uncomfortable when other people knew that he was

Indian. He tried to hide that he was India by changing his name from Gogol to be

Nikhil, he had a girlfriend. She was American and he rarely visited his parents. But

all did not happen in long time; after Gogol’s father died Gogol became aware about

his mistake. He found out the real story behind the name Gogol. Finally, to mitigate

(12)

women from India to be his wife. But after some months they had divorce because

Gogol knew his wife had love affair with another man. But all suffer that Gogol

(13)

1

00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,080 [steam locomotive puffs]

2

00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,520 [train whistle]

3

00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,160

- [man] Hm. What are you reading? - Hm?

4

00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,840 The Overcoat, by Gogol.

5

00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,720 - Gogol?

- Uh-huh.

6

00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,800 Never heard of him.

7

00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,280 Syllabus?

8

00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,160 No.

9

00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,720 [in Bengali] Just reading. My grandfather has given me the book.

10

00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,240 - Seen much of this world? - I went to Delhi once.

11

00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,080 Every year I visit my grandfather in Jamshedpur.

12

00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,320

No, no, no, no, no. Not this world.

13

00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,480 I mean England, America.

14

00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,960 I was in England for two years.

15

00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:17,240 It was like a dream.

16

00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,160 Sparkling clean streets.

17

00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,320 Nobody spitting on the road.

18

00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,200

- Have you ever thought of going abroad? - No.

19

00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,440

You should. You are young. You are free.

20

00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:37,600

[in Bengali] I'll tell you one thing, you must go out and conquer the world.

21

00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,600 You will never regret it.

22

00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,520 My grandfather always says that is what books are for -

23

00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,640 to travel without moving an inch.

24

00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,600

(14)

To each his own.

25

00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,520 [shouting and screaming]

26

00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,440 [woman singing]

27

00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,200 [crowd chant in Bengali]

28

00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,760 [door opens]

29

00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,200

- [in Bengali] Didi, why are you so late? - Hey, Rini.

30

00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:07,600

[in Bengali] Go, get ready quickly. Someone is waiting for you. Go.

31

00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,520 [in Bengali] Learn, Rini.

32

00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,760 [in Bengali] She loves to cook. She knits very well.

33

00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:43,520

[in Bengali] She knitted a cardigan in just a week.

34

00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,680

[in Bengali] And kids are crazy about her.

35

00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:18,040 [in Bengali] She's been learning classical music since childhood.

36

00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,080 [in Bengali] Here she is.

37

00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,720 - [in Bengali] It's OK. - It's OK.

38

00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:46,920 Uh...

39

00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,520 My son has been living abroad for the last two years.

40

00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,920 He's in New York. He's doing his PhD in the field of fiber optics.

41

00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,680 - Hm?

- Hm!

42

00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,000 Our daughter's best subject is English.

43

00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,080

[in Bengali] Ashima, recite something for us.

44

00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,080 "I wandered lonely as a cloud

45

00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,640 That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

46

00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,760 When all at once I saw a crowd..."

47

00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,480 "A host, of golden daffodils"

48

00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,200 This was my father's favorite poem.

49

00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,800 He used to read a lot, my father. Oh!

50

00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,680 [in Bengali] You sit. Sit, please.

51

00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,040

(15)

52

00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,240 Will you be able to go halfway across the world,

53

00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,880

live in a cold city with freezing winters?

54

00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:04,120 [in Bengali] Leave your house, far from your parents?

55

00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,160

[in Bengali] You won't get tired, will you?

56

00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,160

- [in Bengali] He'll be with me, won't he? - [man] Huh?

57

00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,640

[in Bengali] You're starting a new life.

58

00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,880

[in Bengali] Take it to your heart.

59

00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,880 [in Bengali] But don't forget us.

60

00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,960 [in Bengali] It's a new life full of joy and happiness.

61

00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,160

- [in Bengali] Let me see. Let me see. - No, no, no.

62

00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,840 [wedding ceremony in Sanskrit]

63

00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:55,160 [dripping]

64

00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,280 [in Bengali] Where are you?

65

00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,760 It is a freezing winter day outside.

66

00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,720 Bread. Milk.

67

00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,240 Apple. Teem.

68

00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,800 The rest we'll buy from the Indian shop after I come home.

69

00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,440 - [in Bengali] You're going out? - [in Bengali] Yes. Three weeks are up.

70

00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,600 [in Bengali] Now, I have to go.

71

00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,280 How are you feeling?

72

00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,160 It will take you several days to recover. After all, you've just flown...

73

00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,480 halfway around the world.

74

00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:39,520 [in Bengali] You go and rest. I'll bring you some tea.

75

00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,480 [in Bengali] Go.

76

00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:44,280 It is the American way.

77

00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,320

[in Bengali] Go. Go, go. Take a rest.

78

00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,040 - [in Bengali] I don't want to. - OK.

79

(16)

[in Bengali] Then sit down. Sit.

80

00:12:53,680 --> 00:12:57,040

[in Bengali] Here, we have 24-hour gas. See.

81

00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,640

[in Bengali] You just turn this and...

82

00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,160 gas.

83

00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,400 Hot and cold water, too.

[in Bengali] There are two taps.

84

00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:10,160 Red one and blue one. Don't confuse between the two, you would get burned.

85

00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:14,480 And you can drink water straight from the tap, no need to boil it.

86

00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:19,240

The washing machine is just down the street. I will show you when I come home.

87

00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:25,480 Now...

88

00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,440 Once you are settled,

I will take you to my department

89

00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,040 and introduce you to my professor here.

90

00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,000 You won't believe it.

91

00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:45,080

[in Bengali] In comparison to the professors here, even our street vendors dress well.

92

00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:56,760 Just a minute.

93

00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,280 No, no, no, no, no!

94

00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,760 [Ashima] I am very happy, and everything here is wonderful.

95

00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,280

The plane journey was long but enjoyable,

96

00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,400 and I am feeling fine.

97

00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,320 How is Rini?

98

00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:23,360 The house is very nice - big, with lots of windows.

99

00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,600 Do you know, over here we get gas all day and all night?

100

00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,880 These have all shrunk.

I mean, who asked you to wash my clothes?

101

00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,080

[in Bengali] Couldn't you have waited? Here, one dollar means eight rupees.

102

00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,320 We don't have so much money to buy...

103

00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,400 Where are you going?

104

00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:55,520 Ashima?

105

00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:57,760 Ashima?

106

(17)

Open the door, Ashima.

107

00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,280 I'm sorry, Ashima.

108

00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,280 [in Bengali] It was my mistake.

109

00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:19,200 Your intention was good but it was my mistake not to tell you. Please, open the door.

110

00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:25,520

[in Bengali] My Ashima. My Ashima, dear Ashima. Open the door, Ashima.

111

00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,480 [in Bengali] Open the door.

112

00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:30,640 Please?

113

00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,520 Hey, baba.

114

00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,680 [in Bengali] Crazy girl.

115

00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,760

[in Bengali] You won't smile? Huh?

116

00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,120

[in Bengali] No smile? No smile.

117

00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,240

[in Bengali] One, two... No smile. No smile.

118

00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,600 I'm sorry.

119

00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:09,400 Take one or three train, from here all the way to...

120

00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,400

Fulton Street.

121

00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,360 You get out of the station, ask anybody:

122

00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,920

[in Bengali] "Where's the Fulton fish market?"

123

00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:24,160

[in Bengali] Uh, and if I get lost?

124

00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,240

[in Bengali] Why are you scared? Will I let you get lost?

125

00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,640 [cries out]

126

00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:03,160 Uh...

127

00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,960

[in Bengali] What's happening? Hm?

128

00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,000 [in Bengali] Come.

129

00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,200 [in Bengali] Come close to me.

130

00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,320 [Ashima sings quietly]

131

00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:54,080 [singing continues]

132

00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,320 - Do you have a longer frock? - What's that?

133

00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,480 I mean to here.

134

(18)

135

00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:30,600

Here we go, let's get you under the covers so you needn't worry.

136

00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,200 Time those contractions.

137

00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:04,760

[boy] Rana? Hey, Rana! [whistles]

138

00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,360

[in Bengali] Everything's OK. I checked.

139

00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:40,440

[in Bengali] Eyes are black like jamuns.

140

00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,600 [in Bengali] Black like hair.

141

00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,240 [in Bengali] How are you? Everything was OK?

142

00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,960

Being rescued was the first miracle of my life.

143

00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000 You are the second.

144

00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,520 Mrs. Ganguli? I'm Mr. Wilcox.

145

00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,480 You have a name for the baby?

146

00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,120 One minute. My husband is coming.

147

00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,280

- [in Bengali] He wants the baby's name. - Yes, the name.

148

00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:43,400 We are waiting for

my wife's grandmother to choose.

149

00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,840 Will she be here soon?

150

00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:49,400

She is in India. She is more than 85 years old.

151

00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,920

But there is no hurry. Some of my cousins were not named until they were six years old.

152

00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,440 Until then they were called by their dak names.

153

00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,680 - Dak names?

- [Ashoke] Pet names.

154

00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:03,120 We all have two names - one pet name,

dak name, one good name, bhalo name.

155

00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:08,120

In this country, a baby can't be released from the hospital without a birth certificate

156

00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,560 and a birth certificate requires a name.

157

00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,040 How about... Baby Boy Ganguli?

158

00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:17,000 Baby Boy?

159

00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,000 Till the letter arrives.

Afterward, we can change it?

160

00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,080 Is that what we should do?

161

00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,160

(19)

162

00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,240 Sleep on it.

163

00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,440 Baby Boy Ganguli?

164

00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,080 - [baby gurgles] - Gogol...

165

00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:41,840 Gogolu?

166

00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,080 What do you say?

167

00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,800 We could call him Gogol.

168

00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:54,480 Till the letter arrives. Later we could change it on the birth certificate.

169

00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,480 We would not be here but for Gogol's blessings.

170

00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,000 Hold still, hold still.

171

00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:06,840 Don't move.

172

00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,440 One, two, three.

173

00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:11,320 Say "cheese".

174

00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:20,080

[in Bengali] Look, look. Gogol. Uncle!

175

00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,960

[in Bengali] Uncle, uncle, uncle.

176

00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,840 - [in Bengali] It's just come? - [in Bengali] Yes.

177

00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,920 - [in Bengali] Here he is.

- [in Bengali] Oh, my, he's so sweet.

178

00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,240

[in Bengali] Look, look. Ashima's baby, Gogol.

179

00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,200

[Ashima, in Bengali] I want to go home.

180

00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,800

[in Bengali] I don't want to bring up Gogol alone over here.

181

00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,800 Think of Gogol's future.

182

00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,920 This is the land of opportunity, Ashima.

183

00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:12,000 He can become whatever he wants, study whatever he desires.

184

00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,640 You know, options are limitless.

185

00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:16,720 Don't you want to give him that?

186

00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:18,600 Huh?

187

00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,120 - Here you go.

- Thanks.

188

00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,200 You're welcome.

189

(20)

190

00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,840

Leave it, leave it. Leave it. Come, come.

191

00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:45,720 [Ashima hums lullaby]

192

00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:57,480 Don't go so far that I cannot see you. He's too little.

193

00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,080 [Ashima hums lullaby]

194

00:26:15,360 --> 00:26:19,760

[man] Welcome to suburbia, Ashokda. You have a beautiful house. Congratulations.

195

00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:21,840

[Ashoke] Everything is from a yard sale.

196

00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,400 Ashima does not like it but I say, "What is wrong with it?"

197

00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:28,840 Even my chairman,

who lives in a huge mansion,

198

00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,480 wears a trouser bought for fifty cents.

199

00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:34,480 That is America, Ashoke.

200

00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,120 Hey, kids, catch it.

201

00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:42,520 [Ashima] Gogol?

202

00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,400 Where are you?

203

00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,760 Hey, Googly.

204

00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,680 [in Bengali] Poor child.

205

00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:58,440

He's probably feeling very left out because of his sister Sonia's naming ceremony.

206

00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:02,960

- Is he going to be called Gogol in school? - No. We have decided on a good name.

207

00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,440 [woman] Finally. What is it?

208

00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,560 Nikhil.

209

00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,160 The all encompassing one.

210

00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,880 Of course, they will it turn it into Nick.

211

00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,200 Gogol?

212

00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:17,720 Hey, Gogol.

213

00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,280 [in Bengali] He's here.

214

00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:23,360 Missing your sister's ceremony, huh?

215

00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,400 I found him.

216

00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,480 [Gogol] I don't like the baby.

217

00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:35,840 - Sonia, eat this.

(21)

218

00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,920

Ashima, what will your baby girl's future be?

219

00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,920

[in Bengali] We will see her future now.

220

00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,600

- [woman] She wants everything. - Ask her to pick up the pen.

221

00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,680 Hey, Sonia, pick up the pen.

222

00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,240 - A female Tagore.

- Put the dollar in her hand.

223

00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:55,480 Pick up something, Sonu.

224

00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,400

[man] American girl must be rich.

225

00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,680 She's not picking anything.

226

00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,360 So, how did you like

your first day in big school?

227

00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,160 - Great.

- Oh.

228

00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:21,240 And what is this?

229

00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:31,240 "Due to your son's preference, he will be known as Gogol in school."

230

00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,320 "Mrs. Lapidas, Principal."

231

00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,120 Hm.

232

00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,640

And what about your parents' preference?

233

00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:45,760 Hm?

234

00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,920

[Ashima] In this country, the children decide.

235

00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:54,000 He wants to keep Gogol and not Nikhil as his good name.

236

00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:56,600 Fine. No big deal.

237

00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,920 With a president named Jimmy, there's nothing we can do.

238

00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,000 As long as our kid is happy.

239

00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,440 [phone rings]

240

00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:17,720 So late?

241

00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:19,800 [phone rings]

242

00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,160 Hello. Hello?

243

00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,040 [man] Hello, Ashokda?

244

00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:31,080

[in Bengali] Ashokda, can you hear me?

245

00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:34,160

(22)

246

00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,040 [in Bengali] What?

247

00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,400

[in Bengali] I cannot give this news to Didi.

248

00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:43,160 Don't worry, I will.

249

00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,320

[Ashima] He told you something you're not telling me.

250

00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:02,480 Yesterday evening your father was playing patience on his bed.

251

00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,640 He died of a heart attack.

252

00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:05,720 Ah!

253

00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:08,480 [in Bengali] What? What?

254

00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,360 Baba!

255

00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,400 [Ashima weeping]

256

00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,800 [in Bengali] Calm, Ashima.

257

00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,880

[in Bengali] He didn't suffer much.

258

00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,480 - Come on.

- Look, baba. Gogol.

259

00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:15,080 - [in Bengali] Where? - G-o-g-o-l.

260

00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,640

[Ashoke] Very good. Very good.

261

00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,200 Come on, we'll miss the plane. Come on, come on.

262

00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:33,160 - [in Bengali] Come.

- [in Bengali] I don't want to go.

263

00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,040

[in Bengali] I don't want to see them like that.

264

00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:38,600 [in Bengali] That won't do.

265

00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:45,120

[in Bengali] Think of your mother, think of your brother.

266

00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,040 [in Bengali] You have to be strong for all of them.

267

00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,120 [in Bengali] Let's go.

268

00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,360 Not your ordinary guy, Nikolai Gogol.

269

00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:25,680 - Hey, Gogol, it's your namesake. - [laughter]

270

00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:29,360 Today he is respected as

one of Russia's most brilliant writers,

271

00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,600 but in his own lifetime he was

understood by no one, least of all himself.

272

00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:37,080 One might say that

(23)

273

00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,040 - Yo, Gargle, way to go. - Shut up.

274

00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:43,800

Mr. Hanson, Mr. Epstein, I will see you both after class. Thank you. Out.

275

00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:45,880 Come on. Out.

276

00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,480 Thank you, gentlemen.

277

00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:56,800 Now, Gogol was reputed to be a hypochondriac.

278

00:32:56,880 --> 00:33:00,160 He was deeply paranoid, frustrated, friendless.

279

00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,040 He never married

and he fathered no children.

280

00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:10,000

Towards the end of his life, he proceeded to commit slow suicide by starvation.

281

00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:12,280 - [class groans] - [girl] Eww!

282

00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:14,800 Did you guys know about him when you named me?

283

00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:18,280 That he was paranoid, suicidal, friendless, depressed?

284

00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:22,520 You forgot to mention that he was also a genius.

285

00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,800 How could you guys name me after someone so strange?

286

00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:30,760

[in Bengali] Don't talk to your father like that.

287

00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,560 And don't call us "guys".

288

00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:39,440 Sometimes when I listen to you both, I feel I have given birth to strangers.

289

00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:45,000 Just because you're graduating does not mean you can behave like this, Gogol.

290

00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:56,960

[Gogol] So I'm two inches away from her.

291

00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:59,080 Her luscious lips part.

292

00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,160 Just as I'm about to kiss her,

293

00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:05,720 she looks at me and she says:

294

00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,440 "What's your name?"

295

00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:10,280 "Gogol Ganguli."

296

00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:14,960 - End of Seduction 101. - Plain Jane loves your name.

297

00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:19,120 - "Gogol, Gogol, I love you." - "Gogol!"

298

(24)

299

00:34:21,240 --> 00:34:26,240 You know, of all the freaking Russian writers in the universe...

300

00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,360

why did they have to choose the weirdest?

301

00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,080

What the hell's wrong with Leo or Anton?

302

00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:35,880

Shit! I just want to sit 'em down and be like:

303

00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:38,880 "Man, Gogol is your favorite author, not mine."

304

00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:41,720 - Shit!

- What?

305

00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,560 I got that thing. Oh, shit.

306

00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,200 - Hey, where you going? - [Gogol] See ya!

307

00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:51,000 Goodbye, Air India.

308

00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:53,280 [Gogol] Whoo-hoo!

309

00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,320 [door closes]

310

00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,640 - I'm sorry.

- They have been here for two hours already.

311

00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:06,040 Come.

312

00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,600

- This is our son, Gogol. - Sorry, I'm late.

313

00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:13,560

Hey, Gogol. Mr. and Mrs. Mazumdar, they've have just moved in to New York from London.

314

00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,680 Wow. That's far.

315

00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,800 - Hey, Gogol.

- Hey, Mira Masi.

316

00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,160 I'll show you something.

317

00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:24,800 And this is our daughter, Moushumi.

318

00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:28,840 - Both the same age also. - Oh.

319

00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,160 - They'll have a lot in common. - I'm sure.

320

00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:34,200 Hi.

321

00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:35,680 Hello.

322

00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:38,440 - What are you reading? - Bonjour Tristesse.

323

00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,840 In French.

324

00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,240 Wanna go watch some TV?

325

(25)

326

00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:52,480 Gogol, baba.

Come and sit next to your Mira Masi.

327

00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:55,240 Come. Come.

328

00:35:57,120 --> 00:35:59,800 Why are your eyes so red?

329

00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:01,480 [tuts]

330

00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:04,840

- Someone's envy has definitely got to you. - I'm fine.

331

00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:08,360

[in Bengali] Ashima, get me some chilies.

332

00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:11,440

[in Bengali] Nikhi, let me see. Give, quickly.

333

00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:20,880 Oh, Mira Masi. I promise you there are no evil eyes in the United States of America.

334

00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:23,280 That is what you think.

335

00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:26,520 You be careful where you're going. What is the name?

336

00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:27,800 Yale.

337

00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:33,520

There will be plenty of girls in this Yale place who will want to trap you.

338

00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,520 Have as much fun as you want but...

339

00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,800

[both]...marry a Bengali.

340

00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:47,960 [# "Once" by Pearl Jam]

341

00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:54,080 # I admit it

342

00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:55,840 # What's to say?

343

00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:58,680 # Yeah

344

00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,560 # I'll relive it

345

00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:04,240 # Without pain

346

00:37:07,080 --> 00:37:09,480 Gogol!

347

00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:11,040 Hey, baba.

348

00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:17,320 - How are you feeling now? - I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you.

349

00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,200 Good.

350

00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:23,000 Listen.

351

00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:26,880 I have never given you any presents apart from what your mother buys,

352

00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:31,240 but for your graduation, I have something special.

353

(26)

354

00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:36,880 # What's insane

355

00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:40,840 Thanks, baba.

356

00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:49,240

I ordered this just for you from the bookstore. Took four months to arrive.

357

00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,240 # I got a back-street lover on the passenger street

358

00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:53,680 # I got my hand in my pocket, so determined, discreet

359

00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:55,640 # I pray

360

00:37:55,720 --> 00:37:59,000 # Once upon a time

361

00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,080 # I can control myself

362

00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,400 # Ooh, once upon a time...

363

00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:08,400 I hope you like it.

364

00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:10,480 Very nice.

365

00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:12,560 Thanks, baba.

366

00:38:15,680 --> 00:38:17,680 Thanks again.

367

00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:24,080 [turns music off]

368

00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:33,560

You know, I feel a special kinship with Gogol. More than with any other writer.

369

00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:36,720 - Do you know why?

- Yes.

370

00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,960 Gogol's your favorite author. I know, baba.

371

00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:44,040 No, apart from that.

372

00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:48,480 He spent most of his adult life outside his homeland.

373

00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:51,840 - Like me.

- Right.

374

00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:56,280 But...

375

00:38:57,920 --> 00:38:59,720 there...

376

00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:01,640 there is another reason.

377

00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:10,960 Hello?

378

00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:12,640 Hm?

379

00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:15,440 What's the other reason?

380

00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,760 [chuckles]

381

(27)

382

00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:24,560 [groans]

383

00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:32,760 OK, good night.

384

00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:34,840 Good night, baba.

385

00:39:41,240 --> 00:39:44,520

We all came out of Gogol's Overcoat.

386

00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:48,120 One day you will understand.

387

00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:51,240

[man on PA] Your attention, please.

388

00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:57,440

Indian Airlines announces the departure of their flight IC408 to Calcutta.

389

00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:03,200

[woman] On behalf of Indian Airlines and Captain Dasgupta,

390

00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,040 we hope you enjoy your flight.

391

00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:19,240 [woman] Flight IC408.

392

00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:49,600

[man in Bengali] Ah! They've come.

393

00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:52,160 [chatting in Bengali]

394

00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:06,600 Take out the luggage.

395

00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:08,800 - Gogol.

- Hi, Dadima.

396

00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:17,080

[in Bengali] That's all. And for our Rini...

397

00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:19,840 Here. Earphones.

398

00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:24,800 [in Bengali] Quickly,

bring two pairs of chappals from Bata.

399

00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,600

[in Bengali] Get them only from Bata.

400

00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:30,080 [in Bengali] Tea for you.

401

00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:34,640 [man sings]

402

00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:44,400 It's an umbrella.

403

00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:51,640 [Ashoke] Open it, see.

404

00:41:51,720 --> 00:41:53,520 Ah!

405

00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:56,560 Whole New York in Calcutta.

406

00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:05,280 - What's wrong with you? - I want to go home.

407

00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:06,920 Oh-ho!

408

00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:10,160 I have something that'll cheer you up.

409

00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:18,040 Here. The planner says

that there are only 89 days left to go.

(28)

00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:21,000 [moans]

411

00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:24,880 What is wrong with you? Are you hot? Have some ancient air conditioning.

412

00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:26,960 Go away!

413

00:42:36,240 --> 00:42:40,240

[in Bengali] Give me one kilo of tomatoes. Give me the good ones.

414

00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:44,760

[in Bengali] See, that one there is not good.

415

00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,120 You are going out?

416

00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,520 - Jogging.

- Jogging?

417

00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:55,000 - Running, on the street. I'm in training. - Training?

418

00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:56,680 Yep.

419

00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,240

Don't worry, Dadima. I'm not gonna go far.

420

00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:02,120

[in Bengali] Oh, my God. Chotu. Chotu.

421

00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:03,760 [in Bengali] Coming.

422

00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:08,720

[in Bengali] Go with him. He's on the road. Stay close to him.

423

00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:12,120

[in Bengali] I know, I know. I'm going.

424

00:43:12,240 --> 00:43:14,400 Oh, good morning. Gogol!

425

00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:22,160 [in Bengali] Gogol, babu! Move, move. Gogol!

426

00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:25,000

[in Bengali] Gogol, babu! I'm a fat man.

427

00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:34,480 Stop. Stop.

428

00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:36,360 Stop.

429

00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:42,240 [in Bengali] Your grandmother told me to go with you.

430

00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:46,880 Babu follow Chotu.

No... Chotu follow Babu.

431

00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:50,480 - They sent you to follow me? - [in Bengali] Yes.

432

00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:52,840

[in Bengali] My heart's beating fast.

433

00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:54,200 Heart?

434

00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:58,440 - Chotu die.

- Don't die. Want to go back?

435

00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:01,080

[Chotu mumbles agreement in Bengali]

436

00:44:02,240 --> 00:44:05,640 [Chotu sings in Bengali]

437

(29)

to ask you but never had the courage.

438

00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:31,800 All those years ago,

why did you say yes to me?

439

00:44:33,120 --> 00:44:35,600 You were the best of the lot.

440

00:44:36,240 --> 00:44:38,160 Huh?

441

00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:42,720

Better than the widower with four children,

442

00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:45,600 and the cartoonist with one arm.

443

00:44:48,120 --> 00:44:50,880 I also liked your shoes.

444

00:44:53,240 --> 00:44:55,480 Oh, OK, OK.

445

00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:05,160 You want me to say, "I love you"?

446

00:45:05,240 --> 00:45:08,040 Like the Americans?

447

00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:09,640 [in Bengali] Yes.

448

00:45:13,080 --> 00:45:14,440 [in Bengali] Yes.

449

00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:31,520 Stop sulking. You look really great in that outfit. It suits you.

450

00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:34,480 Shut up.

451

00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:38,000

Why don't you get in, my American sahib? Sonia can sit on my lap.

452

00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:41,640 No. Because being pulled by another human being is feudal,

453

00:45:41,720 --> 00:45:45,480 and I don't want to be

part of something like that because...

454

00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:50,560 Ma, stop. It's embarrassing me.

455

00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:53,760

Who can guess where we're going tomorrow?

456

00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:55,760 - Another relative's house? - No.

457

00:45:55,840 --> 00:46:00,240

- The Botanical Gardens for the 100th time. - To Agra. To see the Taj Mahal.

458

00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:02,920 - Are you serious? You're not kidding? - Really?

459

00:46:03,000 --> 00:46:05,000 - That's awesome, Ma. - Oh, my God!

460

00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:07,680

[Ashima] It's a wonder of the world.

461

00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:35,520 - We should have taken a plane.

- [in Bengali] Everything will be fine.

462

00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:37,600 [in Bengali] What will be fine?

463

00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:42,720 [in Bengali] Baba, how far?

464

(30)

465

00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:49,680 [in Bengali] Let's go, let's go.

466

00:48:25,160 --> 00:48:28,640

I've always wanted to come here with you.

467

00:48:34,560 --> 00:48:41,120 Just imagine how much Shah Jahan

must have loved Mumtaz to make this for her.

468

00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:46,200 Other husbands

also love their wives, Ashima.

469

00:48:46,280 --> 00:48:50,560

Only we cannot afford to build Taj Mahal.

470

00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:55,120 Guess what.

471

00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:59,080

- I think I'm gonna major in architecture. - What about engineering?

472

00:48:59,160 --> 00:49:05,160

Come on, baba. Architecture has everything. It's got engineering, drawing, esthetics.

473

00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:07,960 Our family Shah Jahan.

474

00:50:06,200 --> 00:50:09,200 Look. "Gangrene."

475

00:50:11,240 --> 00:50:13,240 What the...?

476

00:50:15,480 --> 00:50:19,080 - Can you believe this?

- I'll catch the racist punk who did that.

477

00:50:19,160 --> 00:50:21,680 - Don't be upset.

- Frigging welcome home.

478

00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:23,760

Just some kids having fun.

479

00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:39,480

So, I've been thinking a lot about my name.

480

00:50:42,680 --> 00:50:45,080

"Gogol" is fine on my high school diploma

481

00:50:45,160 --> 00:50:50,160 but can you imagine "Gogol" on a résumé or a credit card after that?

482

00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:54,800 What are you trying to say?

483

00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:57,840 I'd like to change my name back to my good name.

484

00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:03,600 What is done is done.

Now "Gogol" has become your good name.

485

00:51:03,680 --> 00:51:06,160

It's too complicated now. You're too old.

486

00:51:06,240 --> 00:51:09,240 And, anyway, you have only yourself to blame.

487

00:51:09,320 --> 00:51:11,840

It's my fault because I was four years old?

488

00:51:11,920 --> 00:51:13,920 That's right, Gogol.

489

00:51:16,360 --> 00:51:19,680 Anything is possible in America.

490

00:51:19,760 --> 00:51:21,760 Do as you wish.

491

00:51:51,080 --> 00:51:52,960 An excellent choice, sir.

492

(31)

I'm home.

493

00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:18,680 - Hi, Nick.

- Hello.

494

00:52:18,760 --> 00:52:21,120 Hi, Lydia. How're you doing?

495

00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:24,160 - Good. Have you got it? - Yep.

496

00:52:24,240 --> 00:52:25,840 [Lydia gasps]

497

00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:29,400 Where's my girl?

Where's my Master of Fine Arts?

498

00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:32,200 - Congratulations.

- Thank you, Daddy.

499

00:52:35,320 --> 00:52:38,960 Thank you all so much for coming. This means so much to me.

500

00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:41,080 Drink. Celebrate.

501

00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:45,200 Beep beep. Excuse me. I'm sorry.

502

00:52:45,280 --> 00:52:46,720 Cake.

503

00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:49,080 - I still can't believe it's over. - Hey.

504

00:52:49,160 --> 00:52:51,360 Hi.

505

00:52:51,440 --> 00:52:53,440 - Nick...

- Open it.

506

00:53:01,120 --> 00:53:04,080 - Do you like it?

- Yeah, it's beautiful.

507

00:53:04,160 --> 00:53:06,400 [Lydia] Hello.

508

00:53:07,080 --> 00:53:12,400

I want you to meet the young Indian architect who has so captured Maxine's heart.

509

00:53:12,480 --> 00:53:16,360

This is Pam Burton, a dear college friend, and this is Nikhil Ganguli.

510

00:53:16,440 --> 00:53:18,840 - How do you do?

- Maxine, look who's here.

511

00:53:18,920 --> 00:53:22,160 - It's very nice to meet you. - You as well.

512

00:53:22,240 --> 00:53:24,840 Now, how old were you when you moved to America?

513

00:53:24,920 --> 00:53:26,600 I was actually born in New York.

514

00:53:26,680 --> 00:53:29,160

I once had a girlfriend who went to India.

515

00:53:29,240 --> 00:53:31,560 Came back thin as a rail.

516

00:53:31,640 --> 00:53:34,680 - I'm sure.

- I was horribly envious of her.

517

00:53:37,880 --> 00:53:41,880 I think your parents want you to marry a nice Indian girl.

518

(32)

519

00:53:47,280 --> 00:53:49,280 This is what I want.

520

00:54:09,560 --> 00:54:13,520 Sally gave them to me before

anybody else could check them out, huh?

521

00:54:13,600 --> 00:54:17,200 Ah! Reading Chekhov.

522

00:54:17,280 --> 00:54:21,280

What perks I get from my wife, the librarian.

523

00:54:22,600 --> 00:54:24,080 [car horn]

524

00:54:24,160 --> 00:54:27,240 - [man] What are you, blind? - [man #2] Today, huh?

525

00:54:27,320 --> 00:54:29,320 [car horn]

526

00:54:30,400 --> 00:54:32,400 [Ashoke in Bengali] Drive fast.

527

00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:34,800 You have to learn to drive faster.

528

00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:38,800

- Don't talk to me. I will have an accident. - [car horn]

529

00:54:38,880 --> 00:54:42,680

[Ashoke] If you keep on driving like this, you will have an accident.

530

00:54:53,280 --> 00:54:55,720

[Gogol] Everything's fine, Mom.

531

00:54:55,800 --> 00:54:57,600 - Why are you calling me? - Hey, hon.

532

00:54:57,680 --> 00:55:00,240

[Ashima] Because you're not at your apartment.

533

00:55:00,320 --> 00:55:02,800

You are never at your apartment, Gogol.

534

00:55:02,880 --> 00:55:06,240 In the middle of the night I have called and you are not there.

535

00:55:06,320 --> 00:55:10,200

I am, Ma. I need my sleep. I turn off the phone.

536

00:55:11,040 --> 00:55:14,080 - Gogol, are you there? - Yeah, yeah. I'm here. I'm here.

537

00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:16,520

I want you to come home next Saturday.

538

00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:19,440 Then you can come with us to the airport the next day.

539

00:55:19,520 --> 00:55:22,760

Baba is going to teach in Ohio for six months. You remember?

540

00:55:22,840 --> 00:55:26,280 I remember. But what's the big deal? He's only going to Cleveland.

541

00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:30,360 - Sonia's not coming home.

- Sonia lives in California, Gogol.

542

00:55:31,440 --> 00:55:33,360

I can't come home that weekend.

543

00:55:34,200 --> 00:55:39,240

I'm going on a vacation with my girlfriend. Her parents have a place in Oyster Bay.

544

00:55:41,440 --> 00:55:43,160 Mom?

(33)

00:55:44,040 --> 00:55:46,040 [Ashima hangs up]

546

00:55:53,280 --> 00:55:56,080 Mind if we go see my parents on the way to Oyster Bay?

547

00:55:56,160 --> 00:55:58,640

- You mean I'd finally get to meet them? - Mm-hm.

548

00:55:58,720 --> 00:56:00,880 I'd love to, baby.

549

00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:02,960 Oh, that's too much.

550

00:56:05,840 --> 00:56:07,840 I'm back.

551

00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:14,680

You know, he's willing to go on vacation with someone else's parents,

552

00:56:14,760 --> 00:56:16,960 but not to see his own.

553

00:56:17,040 --> 00:56:22,440 Forget it, this is America.

Soon as the kids turn 16, they're gone.

554

00:56:24,320 --> 00:56:28,800 I lost the company of my parents when I first came to this country.

555

00:56:30,240 --> 00:56:33,600

Now I feel I'm losing my family all over again.

556

00:56:34,600 --> 00:56:39,080 Besides, what kind of a girl is called Max, huh?

557

00:56:39,160 --> 00:56:41,160 Maybe it's a boy.

558

00:56:43,920 --> 00:56:47,280 There are things you should know.

No kissing, no holding hands.

559

00:56:47,360 --> 00:56:50,880 My parents are not Lydia and Gerald. I've never seen them touch.

560

00:56:50,960 --> 00:56:53,160 - A little depressing.

- A little bit.

561

00:56:53,240 --> 00:56:55,960 You really want to forget all this stuff.

562

00:56:56,040 --> 00:56:58,480 What? Why're you getting truffles?

563

00:56:58,560 --> 00:57:00,720 - They won't like them, will they? - No.

564

00:57:00,800 --> 00:57:03,400 Come on, Nick, everyone loves truffles.

565

00:57:04,480 --> 00:57:06,600 [Gogol] Ma, we're here.

566

00:57:07,520 --> 00:57:09,640 Ma.

567

00:57:09,720 --> 00:57:11,600 Hi.

568

00:57:11,680 --> 00:57:13,960

Ma, this is Maxine. Max, this is my mother.

569

00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:18,560

Hello, Ashima. It's so nice to finally meet you.

570

00:57:18,640 --> 00:57:20,280 Hm.

571

00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:23,400 - These are for you and Ashoke. - Oh.

572

(34)

There was no need.

573

00:57:26,040 --> 00:57:28,480 Thank you. Please come in.

574

00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:30,560 - Come.

- Thank you.

575

00:57:32,960 --> 00:57:34,960 Please sit.

576

00:57:36,280 --> 00:57:38,280 I will get drinks.

577

00:57:39,760 --> 00:57:43,400 - It's nice. This is where you grew up? - Yeah.

578

00:57:55,320 --> 00:58:00,240 Nikhil's father is upstairs

with the man from the alarm company.

579

00:58:00,320 --> 00:58:03,680 - Why are we getting a security system? - It was your father's idea.

580

00:58:03,760 --> 00:58:05,680 Now that I will be on my own.

581

00:58:05,760 --> 00:58:10,200 You know, even in good areas like this, these days there are crimes.

582

00:58:10,280 --> 00:58:13,480 Ashima, I've been admiring what you're wearing.

583

00:58:13,560 --> 00:58:16,920 - Is this a kantha? - Oh, yes.

584

00:58:17,000 --> 00:58:20,680 I grew up with fabrics.

My mother curates textiles at the Met.

585

00:58:20,760 --> 00:58:23,560

- The Met?

- The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

586

00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:29,040

Remember? I took you there. It's the museum with all the steps and the Egyptian temple.

587

00:58:29,120 --> 00:58:32,880

I remember. My father was also an artist.

588

00:58:32,960 --> 00:58:37,600 That painting you're seeing there? That is his painting.

589

00:58:37,680 --> 00:58:40,640 Ah, it's nice.

590

00:58:40,720 --> 00:58:44,280

So it will be installed tomorrow, all right?

591

00:58:45,800 --> 00:58:48,360 - I'll give you a receipt. - It's really lovely.

592

00:58:49,800 --> 00:58:51,800 Thank you, Mr. Robbins.

593

00:58:53,480 --> 00:58:56,160 - [Gogol] Hey, baba. - Hey.

594

00:58:56,240 --> 00:58:59,200 This is Maxine. Max, this is my father.

595

00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:01,760 - Hello.

- Hello, Ashoke.

596

00:59:06,960 --> 00:59:09,640 - How are you?

- Fine.

597

00:59:10,320 --> 00:59:12,120 Fine.

598

00:59:18,840 --> 00:59:22,640

(35)

599

00:59:22,720 --> 00:59:26,320 Nikhil's mother has been cooking for the past two days.

600

00:59:26,400 --> 00:59:28,640 It's better than this boy here makes.

601

00:59:33,160 --> 00:59:34,640 [Ashoke] Oh...

602

00:59:36,200 --> 00:59:38,360 I forgot the ice cream.

603

00:59:42,760 --> 00:59:45,720

Nikhil, come with me to Briar's, will you?

604

00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:48,920 - Sure.

- I'll come with you.

605

00:59:49,000 --> 00:59:53,640

Why don't you stay and keep Nikhil's mother company? We'll be back in no time. Yes?

606

00:59:53,720 --> 00:59:55,520 OK.

607

01:00:00,120 --> 01:00:05,600

[Ashoke] I wanted to tell you something before I leave for my semester in Ohio.

608

01:00:05,680 --> 01:00:08,200 It is about your name.

609

01:00:08,280 --> 01:00:10,840 - My name?

- Gogol.

610

01:00:12,600 --> 01:00:15,240 There is a reason for it, you know.

611

01:00:15,320 --> 01:00:18,600 I know. Gogol's your favorite author. I remember.

612

01:00:19,600 --> 01:00:21,920 [Ashoke] It is more than that.

613

01:00:22,960 --> 01:00:24,960 It was...

614

01:00:25,960 --> 01:00:30,320 1974, when I was a student in Calcutta.

615

01:00:32,320 --> 01:00:37,800

Every year I would take the train to visit my grandfather in Jamshedpur.

616

01:00:40,240 --> 01:00:43,680 I carried one book with me to read on the journey.

617

01:00:45,200 --> 01:00:48,280 - Gogol?

- Yes.

618

01:00:49,120 --> 01:00:51,120 The Overcoat.

619

01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:56,760 So on the train, late at night, a Mr. Ghosh befriended me.

620

01:00:56,840 --> 01:01:00,720

He kept trying to persuade me to leave India.

621

01:01:01,320 --> 01:01:05,160

And I just wanted to get back to my book.

622

01:01:05,240 --> 01:01:09,120 My grandfather always says that is what books are for -

623

01:01:09,200 --> 01:01:12,320 to travel without moving an inch.

624

01:01:14,680 --> 01:01:18,120 And that's when it happened.

625

(36)

626

01:02:10,840 --> 01:02:13,480

[man in Hindi] There's no life here. Let's go.

627

01:02:19,120 --> 01:02:22,680

[in Bengali] No, wait. That man, he's alive. The book. He's moving.

628

01:02:36,680 --> 01:02:41,040 [Ashoke] I kept hearing Ghosh's voice in my head.

629

01:02:41,440 --> 01:02:48,120

[Ghosh] Pack a pillow and blanket. See the world. You will never regret it.

630

01:02:53,800 --> 01:02:58,200 That is how I came to America and you got your name.

631

01:03:05,960 --> 01:03:09,360 Come, Maxine will be waiting for you.

632

01:03:16,960 --> 01:03:20,800 Baba, is that what you think of when you think of me?

633

01:03:21,880 --> 01:03:24,360 Do I remind you of that night?

634

01:03:28,160 --> 01:03:30,880 Not at all.

635

01:03:30,960 --> 01:03:34,760

You remind me of everything that followed.

636

01:03:35,840 --> 01:03:41,480

Every day since then has been a gift, Gogol.

637

01:03:58,640 --> 01:04:03,000 - Samosas for the journey. - Thank you. Thank you so much.

638

01:04:03,080 --> 01:04:05,760 - It was lovely to meet you. - Bye, Ma.

639

01:04:05,840 --> 01:04:07,840 Same here.

640

01:04:08,800 --> 01:04:11,760 Remember to check in on your mother now and again.

641

01:04:11,840 --> 01:04:15,440 - OK, baba.

- Call to let us know that you've arrived safely.

642

01:04:15,520 --> 01:04:18,080 - I will.

- Drive safely, Gogol.

643

01:04:21,480 --> 01:04:25,840 - What did your dad just call you? - I'll explain later.

644

01:04:25,920 --> 01:04:28,240

[# "Karate" by Kennedy]

645

01:04:30,480 --> 01:04:34,440

[Max] I would never have guessed that your parents are so different.

646

01:04:34,520 --> 01:04:36,400 # I don't need no. 9-mil Glock

647

01:04:36,480 --> 01:04:38,160 # These hands are deadly guns

648

01:04:38,240 --> 01:04:39,800

# From smokin', drinkin', being a thug</i&