The Lunchbox movie review: A lunchbox full of delight and truly wholesome!
Ritesh Batras The Lunchbox is like a breath of fresh air and will certainly leave a big smile on your face by the time you exit the theatres
The Lunchbox (Dabba) starring Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a bittersweet love story about two strangers who have never met and communicate only through notes. Set in the backdrop of Bombay, Irrfan (Saajan Fernandes) is a widowed employee who works for the government of India and is about to retire after 35 years of service. Nimrat (Ila) is a housewife whose life revolves around her daughter Yashvi and husband Rajeev, who has lost all interest in her. So to spice up her dull marriage life, Ila decides to cook a delicious lunch for her hubby which would be delivered at his office by dabbawallahs. Yes, the famous dabbawallahs, whose impeccable working mechanism is synonymous with Mumbai and continues to bemuse one and all.
So the story takes off when the dabba prepared by Ila lands up at Saajans desk. The next day Ila sends a note along with the dabba and Saajan reverts with a note too. From discussing food to confessing their innermost feelings, Ila and Saajan keep exchanging notes and end up finding a confidante in each other. And finally they decide to meet. But do they come face-to-face? Well, we arent going to give it all away so you need to watch the film for that!
The old-fashioned romance between Ila and Saajan reminds you of the time when there were no mobile phones and people wrote letters to their near and dear ones. Besides the two lead actors, there is Nawazuddin (Aslam Shaikh), who is hired to replace Saajan after he retires. While Saajan doesnt like Shaikh initially, the two slowly become fond of each other and establish a father-son like relationship, which is very endearing. Nawazuddins comic timing is bang on throughout and its an absolute delight to watch him and Irrfan share the screen. Then there is Bharati Achrekar (Mrs Deshpande), who lives just above Ilas home. You dont get to see her even once, but you hear her voice. Every conversation between Ila and Mrs Deshpande aka Aunty is engaging and funny.
All the characters have been defined nicely by the debutant director. From the train sequences to how the dabbawallahs work and then linking the Hindu Ila with the Christian Fernandes and the Muslim Shaikh, first-time filmmaker Ritesh Batra has captured the real essence of diverse Bombay beautifully in the film.
As far as acting is concerned, Irrfan plays the part of a lonely old man effortlessly. Nimrat and Nawazuddin are flawless in this old-world charm, unconventional love story. Lastly, what kept lingering in the mind even after the movie was long over were these lines: We forget things if we have no one to tell them to, and sometimes, even the wrong train can take you to the right destination.
If you are looking to watch a masala entertainer then The Lunchbox wont appeal to you. But if meaningful cinema is your craving then this is one film you wouldnt want to miss. FYI: Every time Ila packs the lunchbox, the oh-so mouth-watering food leaves you hungry!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
It has not been long since we attended the preview of The Lunchbox, but the images of the haze and spices of an average Indian kitchen stay with you. Directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap and Arun Rangachari, the film follows the slice-of-life narrative so typical of our Indian scenario.
Most Bollywood films take the glossier (and fantasy-world) route of story-telling, ignoring the little odds, ends and cogs of everyday life which make for more meaningful viewing. The Lunchbox is an endeavour to break out of that rut with some breakthrough performances from Nimrat Kaur, Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
It is the story of a lonely housewife whose lunchbox to her husband (Nakul Vaid) gets switched with accountant Saajan Fernandes's (Irrfan Khan). The resolved misunderstanding leads to an exchange of notes between two strangers, who begin to confide their daily routine in each other. Nawazuddin plays the jolly Aslam Sheikh, Saajan's colleague who grows on him (and us) as time passes by.
The story is simple and the climax an abrupt, albeit open-ended conclusion, one that befits the plot. Batra takes you from the grimy locales of Mumbai, to the locals that criss-cross amidst tracks, the suffocation of packed train compartments, brief shots of the close-knit dabbawallahs and the simplicity of the average middle-class home. But above all, it depicts the sense of loneliness in the city of dreams, when those very dreams shatter.
Production designer Shruti Gupte should take a bow for the realistic set-up. From the yellowing files in a shuffling office to the indolence of a humble home, she has captured every nuance perfectly.
Director Ritesh Batra should take a bow for penning and making such a novel and uncomplicated story. One only hopes that it does not get submerged in the deluge of commercial tripe that scarcely justifies its box office collections. Watch this film to pause and appreciate the smaller moments in life. Human interaction, connection and bonding. It's something we seem to have long-forgotten, especially in harried metropolises.
Films of India gives The Lunchbox 3 stars. Do not miss out on the film which releases on 20th September, 2013. Experience the story. Breathe in the characters and the delectable dabbe ka khaana!
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