It all depends on how good the book is. In this case, it's an excellent book and we really didn't want to change much. The Namesake had a massive captive audience before we even decided to work on making it a film, so we tried really hard not to disappoint them.

So how do all the raves feel, now that critics are hailing the film as being better than the book?

Fantastic! It's wonderful because Jhumpa has loved the film. And the international response has been exceptionally overwhelming. Someone told me that they queued up for hours in line in New York to watch The Namesake, and that's extremely touching. It's also the kind of film that tends to make most people very emotional.

What would you call the challenges specific to this adaptation?

Well, it's a very internal film. Also, it's not plot driven. Which are both things that make it very hard, in terms of narrative.

It's also, pardon the expression, 'a very Bengali book.' Did this distance you from the characters in any way?

True, it definitely is a very, very Bengali book, but it's one that has a tremendous worldwide audience. And the novel does a fantastic job in detailing the cultural nuances. The vital thing, I think, is that Mira and I connected with the emotional landscape. On both levels.

I connected with Gogol because I too studied in America, and, when I came back after 6 years, my parents didn't really recognise me. And I connected with the parents, because, well, I'm one myself now. It's a story that reaches out to all the generations, and I think this adaptation came at a time I was ready for it, when I could completely relate to all of the characters.

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