The movie based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s book, The Namesake, is set to open on March 9th. But before you see the movie (and you must, it’s directed by Mira Nair) Brooklyn blogger Pardon Me For Asking says, READ THE BOOK. 

Before the March 9th opening of the movie "The Namesake" which is based
on Jhumpa Lahiri’s book of the same name, I urge everyone to read the
original.
Yes, I may be partial to Lahiri . Not only is she a
fellow Brooklyn resident, she is also an active opponent of the
Atlantic Yards project (see below) and a Barnard Graduate. Most
importantly, her writing is achingly beautiful. " The Namesake" is the
story of two generations of the Ganguli family and their transition
from Calcutta to Cambridge, Massachusetts. It’s the classic story of
immigration and assimilation.
Though this story is about an Indian
family, it is my story too. Elegantly written, ever so restrained,
Lahiri perfectly invokes the sense of loss the newcomer feels, the
desperate attempt to hold on to one’s culture and customs and what
happens to the next generation which tries so hard to be American, just
to realize that it will forever be a blend of two cultures.
I
don’t know how good the movie is. I am not even sure I want to see it
for fear that it will rob me of the image I made myself of the
characters. I can only suggest that you read this little gem yourself.
To read a passage of the book, follow this link:
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-namesake.htmpardonmeforasking.blogspot.com/2007/03/recent-great-reads.html