The Lunchbox

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Adarsh T The Lunchbox (2013), directed by Ritesh Batra, is a gem of Indian cinema. It beautifully explores themes of loneliness, human connection, and serendipity in a bustling urban landscape. Set in Mumbai, the story revolves around an unusual relationship that develops between a middle-aged widower, Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan), and a neglected housewife, Ila (Nimrat Kaur), through a series of notes exchanged in a mistakenly delivered lunchbox. The movie’s strength lies in its subtle storytelling, evocative performances, and nuanced writing. Irrfan Khan’s restrained yet deeply emotional portrayal of Saajan is outstanding, while Nimrat Kaur brings warmth and vulnerability to her role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, as Saajan’s eager apprentice, Shaikh, adds humor and depth to the narrative. The Mumbai Dabbawala system serves as a unique backdrop, adding a layer of cultural authenticity. The film doesn’t rely on melodrama but instead thrives on quiet, poignant moments. The bittersweet ending leaves viewers with a sense of hope and introspection. The Lunchbox is a heartwarming, timeless tale of love and self-discovery, reminding us that even the smallest connections can leave lasting impacts. It’s a must-watch for fans of meaningful cinema. Verdict: Super Hit. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/28/25 Full Review Aaisha G Awesome storytelling, excellent job by the whole team! You're totally missing out something if you haven't watched it yet. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/12/24 Full Review Dani G Simple and efficient romantic drama that goes straight to what it wants to tell Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/25/24 Full Review MD AMIR S The Lunchbox is a heartwarming Bollywood film that beautifully explores human connection through a mistaken lunch delivery. A must-watch for its simplicity, charm, and emotional depth. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Georgan G An unusual and delightful film that opens the main characters' heart. Each feels alone but we watch as sharing brings about deeper understanding of personal responsibility. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/16/23 Full Review Bobby J Exceptional epistolary romantic movie starring Irrfan Khan(Saajan Fernandez) and Nimrat Kaur(Ila), threading love, despair and hope through misplaced lunchboxes,set up in Bombay. Story and direction done by debutant Ritesh Batra while Anurag Kashyap and co are part of the production. Navazuddin Siddique did excellent performance. Movie is of top quality art content, philosophies, strong story element which emphasizes plain emotions, great frames, excellent literature elements. Irrfan plays the role of a boring old widowed insurance officer while Nimrat Kaur is of a perturbed mind trying to impress her husband, to finally find her husband is in another affair. Thereafter, the story plots instance by instance where Irrfan and Nimrat ends up planning to elope to Bhutan, but director leaves the conclusion open to the viewers to decide. Overall, I liked the movie. Mostly, if love story well put, I like them. Some people dont. I loved the beauty of reading small chits of one line love letter send back and forth. Top dialogues: "kabhi kabhi galti train se sahi jaga pohenchthi hein"|"nobody buys yesterday's lottery ticket" The movie was well received by critics, media and box office. It stunned people world wide, even a Japanese dubbed version was released. Won many awards across, how ever sparked controversy in the India on not getting selected for Oscar submission: Anurag Kashyap even deleted his social media handles in the rage. Apparently, it was Marendra Nodis friends movie which got selected that year, as usual that movie was not meeting the basic criteria too. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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