''The Namesake'' depicts the struggles of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli (Irrfan Khan and Tabu (actress)), first-generation immigrants from the East Indian state of West Bengal to the United States, and their American-born children Gogol (Kal Penn) and Sonia (Sahira Nair). The film takes place primarily in Kolkata, New York City and New York (state) state suburbs.