Ritesh Batra's Lunchbox (2013) is one of my favourite movies and I just love the way the film is about the connection 2 people make through food and then through handwritten letters.
It is a lovely slice-of-life movie. It brings to life certain emotions, tiny vignettes of a city, and the banality of everyday life gets charged with meaning and sweetness in the capable hands of the director. The characters are highly believable, even as they fumble through the indignities of life and love with refreshing candor. And the acting is brilliant.
Ila is a housewife trapped in a souring marriage and stifling domesticity (her world is confined to their small apartment, mainly the kitchen). Saajan is a widower on the verge of retirement. The lunchbox that travels between them, becomes a lifeline for them both.
The movie is tender and heartfelt. The director doesn't tell us what happens to Ila and Saajan. Ritesh Batra is too sophisticated a storyteller to spin a 'happily ever after.' In my version, they move to Bhutan and find a semblance of serenity together.
Thoughts on this movie??
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
