Cast: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bharati Achrekar’s voice, Lilette Dubey
Story and Screenplay : Ritesh Batra
Producer: Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap , Arun Rangachari
Director: Ritesh Batra
Language: Hindi and English
Genres: Drama, Romance
Rating: ****
Release dates: Sept 20, 2013 (India) February 28, 2014 (USA)
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwYN-XS92yY
(The aim and intention of my reviews is to critique and recommend while not revealing the whole story to enjoy the movie when seen. But minor details have been divulged for a proper review!)
I have seen many movies and written many a review but they are some movies which move you enough that you want to recommend others to not miss. LunchBox is one such movie. As a Food Writer and Film Critic, It was a feast for my soul while stirring up my appetite. This movie review is also featured on my Bollywood blog : http://bollywoodfilmcritic.blogspot.com/2014/02/lunch-box-movie-review.html
Lunchbox is sad, sweet and delicious! It is emotional and poignant, yet captivating and endearing story of lonely lives, hanging on with a ray of hope. The Story is spun around Mumbai’s famous dabawallas who drop lunch boxes to work places, messing up one delivery and creating a connection between isolated lives of an unhappy housewife and older widower. The story is also delightfully delicious showing the love and passion involved in cooking each of those recipes of ‘Bharwan Karela/Stuffed Bitter Gourd ’, ‘Masala Baingan/Spicy Eggplants’, ‘ Paneer Kofta Masala/ Cheese Ball Curry’ that are packed in the lunchbox, that you start craving and yearning to make and eat those dishes yourselves!
The movie reflects the many lonely lives embroiled in their monotonous routines in the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Mumbai. Saajan Fernandes( Irfaan Khan) smoking away his lonely life after his wife’s death, buying himself a vertical burial plot and planning his retirement ; Ila (Nimrat Kaur), the young neglected housewife going through the chores of cooking, cleaning and laundry zoned out by her husband involved in his own affair; The aunty(voice of bharati achrekar) who seeks interaction through a neighboring window to avoid the silence in her life with a bed ridden husband who just stares at the moving fan; The mother(Lillete dubey) tired of just feeding and bathing the sick dad; the enthusiastic subordinate Aslam (Nawazuddin) seeking to get trained by Fernanades, is a sad orphaned fool who is brushing of his loneliness by planning his wedding!
Fernandes and Ila connect through notes passed in a lunchbox, initially descriptive about food to personal rants and life’s going ons to sharing each other’s life stories…. Fernandes says we forget things if we have no one to tell them to, and you do not want this quirky communication and yum lunches to stop either. The little notes of conversation, a listening ear to their loneliness and caring gestures brings a meaning and happiness to their lives. Even though they don’t meet, they develop a bond of love and care.
Ritesh Batra, a debutante director amazes with his entrancing script and screenplay and excellent direction. The actors, Irfaan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawaazuddin all have the finest performances, each carving out their roles brilliantly to the smallest nuance, tone, look, line and detail. Interestingly even the voice of Bharati Achrekar is well played.
The dabawalas efficiency and accuracy of delivery system with their low cost, high service, simple operating system is admired across the world, and is a case study in many business schools and even Harward Business School. But the movie takes into one possible human error of this dabawallahs to build an incredible story. Its funny that in the movie when Ila the female lead complains about error of delivery, the dabbawala immediately defends himself and says they are known for their efficiency even in Harward;)
Lunchbox feasts the soul, while stirring up your appetite and craving its delicious contents.
After seeing the movie, I definitely am craving to eat stuffed Bitter gourd. Here are a few Sanjeev Kapoor’s recipes of Bharwan Karela , for you to cook and enjoy;)
http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/bharwan-karela.aspx
http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/stuffed-karela.aspx
http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/masaledar-karele.aspx