The Namesake Blog

text-based companion to the 2 videos

Hey all -

I didn't get a chance to do the text-based companion to the 2 videos: KKK video or the "the naam-uh-saa-kay" video. Both of those videos should be up now, so here is the "making of". I'll start with the KKK one.

The video was shot on the set of a film i'm currently working on (Harold and Kumar 2), during some downtime. When I see KKK guys in their outfits, they make me think of clowns. Cowards. People who hide their faces, knowing the shame (not to mention moral and legal remorse) they should feel for their actions. The reality of the KKK and it's part in the brutal suppression of non-white, non-heteronormative, non-Christian Americans is that the organization and its members murdered, tortured, and terrorized innocent people. One of the objectives of their actions was to violate the human rights of people of color.

So in deciding to shoot a short video with actors dressed as KKK members discussing a film featuring predominantly characters and performers of color, the entire existence of the Klan is being ridiculed and disempowered. This is done specifically without using any racial, ethnic, or gender-based indicators. It purposely subverts racism and violence rather than expanding upon or embracing it. For more on some of my personal heroes, I urge you to read essays by Gandhi, King, Assata, and Malcolm X on issues pertaining to structures of power, race, and violence. Of course, the basis of the MLK nonviolent civil rights movement is Gandhian in nature, and I think that ties in to the very universal themes of the film in many ways (not overtly, but with regard to the progressive Bengali political sphere).

As far as the "naam-uh-saa-kay" video - that's sort of a takeoff on some of the identity-based issues people bring up (mispronouncing names, misunderstanding contexts, etc). It's not unlike a couple of scenes from the film, but perhaps more generally is an embellishment of reactions to the things that people sometimes see (and comment on) through what they view as a "south asian american" lens rather than a strictly human one.

Special thanks to Jerry Johnson and Macc Niemann for the first video, and Jorma Taccone and Andy Samberg for the second one.

The KKK Reviews "The Namesake"

The KKK Reviews "The Namesake"

Ed and Larry tell me what they thought of "The Namesake".

Click Here to View the Video

Back from the LA Press Day - some clarifications

The Los Angeles Press Day for "The Namesake" went well - it was nice to have the opportunity to talk about a film that has been close to me since the first time I read the book upon which it's based. Based upon the questions I got in LA, I realized a few things about what people expect from this movie, so i figured i'd discuss them a little bit.

First, there is a weird assumption that the character of Gogol undergoes some sort of ethnocentric identity struggle (he doesn't). I've had a few people tell me that (based upon the trailer), they thought the film is about an Indian kid who has to choose between his white girlfriend or his Indian one. I think it's sad that some people are viewing these characters in terms of race. While this is probably the fault of the trailer (which though beautifully cut together, does tend to sort of overdo it when it comes to really explaining what the story is about), it's weird to have to explain this part of the character without giving away elements of the film.

So i'll do it briefly with the hopes that it clarifies the character. Within the story of the film, i play an American kid (yes, who happens to be of Indian descent though that hardly has much to do with the essence of who he is) named Gogol. Gogol is moderately bothered by his name growing up - NOT because of the color of his skin, rather because the author after whom he's named (Nikolai Gogol) was largely thought to be insane in his personal matters. Gogol (the character in the film) is actually quite comfortable with who he is, and doesn't really struggle with any sort of identity issues. It's other people around him who always take issue with his ethnicity or his job. (I don't want to cite lines and give away scenes from the film, so i'll leave it at that).

It was sort of unfortunate to be asked about ethnicity and identity when my character struggles with none of those issues. It is actually the character of Ashima (the mother) who undergoes the types of nationalistic and ethnic identity dilemma in this story.

"So Kal, you must have really related to Gogol since you're both Indian!" No. I related to Gogol because of who he is, and because of the depth of his essence, courtesy of Jhumpa's writing. His ethnicity had nothing to do with it...

Los Angeles Press Day

Hello all -

I'm in Los Angeles this weekend for what is called a "press junket" - essentially a daylong series of interviews with journalists, reporters, television, magazine, newspaper and media outlets who ask questions about the film just before release. I think they've all seen the film (i'd imagine at a separate private screening yesterday), so i'm very curious to see the response.

Yesterday afternoon, we screened the film for the film school at the University of Southern California, and participated in a Q&A afterward. More to follow towards the end of the day today, or perhaps tomorrow when i'm back in Louisiana...

In the meantime, check out our recent review of "The Namesake" in the new issue of "Premiere Magazine" - it made my mom proud. :)