The Namesake and 300

Two movies in two days. Big deal, huh? Well how about two very good films? How often do you come across something like that now-a-days?

I saw The Namesake today. Honestly, I didn't go with any great expectations. In fact, I went more to accompany my family rather than anticipate a moving experience.

The movie is about a Bengali family in America.

A phrase from the movie resonated within me when I heard it - for it reinforced something I deeply believe in. A man says to his son -

Whenever you feel everything is against you - pack your pillow, and see the world, my son - And you will never regret it.

Indeed, how else can you get over your present troubles than by experiencing something different, or something new? There are so many things left to be done in this world - what can be so big as to stop us from discovering it?

This boy, in the movie - being brought up in a foreign country, comes to India one day and finds a part of the country in him all along. We will always carry a part of India with us - and will always recognize it when we see it, whether we like it or not.

And that is how it is with us youngsters, isn't it? We feel that the country has let us down - for many reasons, but once you triple distill all of them like Smirnoffs Vodka, it is because we are not up to the challenge. We yearn to go abroad in search of opportunity and a "fair" life - but does it feel fair to be running away from your homeland? Isn't there a voice within you saying you might as well try and make things better instead of going someplace where poverty means not having money to buy shampoo?

The movie, on the other hand, also has some good things to say about life back there. Indians there form a community through which we remain closer to our roots than we imagine. And that of course, you can make it big there if you really want to.

The other touching aspect of the movie, to me, is about family bonds. It is very easy as youngsters to ignore the wishes of our parents in the pretext of freedom and independence. Thinking that we are indebted to them makes us feel old fashioned. And only when they are gone, do we realise our shortcomings.

There is some good acting, and decent love scenes. I wish it was less decent, of course. Tabu is a seasoned veteran, our protagonist Kal gives an above average performance - but Irrfan Khan is splendid. From start to finish. And beyond.

See the movie, you won't regret it.

The other movie is 300. There's nothing much to say, given its spartan storyline. It's about fighting for what you believe in. And about what to believe in. Sterling performances and stunning visuals. A must-watch.