265 reviews
"The Lunchbox" is the most honest love story to come out of Bollywood in ages. It is a delightful story of love blossoming slowly, one letter a day, between two most unlikely but equally despondent characters you could ever match make.
Debutant Director, Ritesh Batra, who is also done the script writing, has crafted an exquisite gem of a movie. Batra impresses because he does not set out to impress. He conveys eloquently the state of the mind of each character because he is economical with emotions and does not exaggerate. Batra makes a memorable movie with multiple layers because he is honest with himself and his craft. Ritesh Batra is simply magnificent.
The performances by the 3 leading actors, Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur are disarmingly natural, poignant and memorable. Pitted against the two stalwarts (comparatively speaking), Khan and Siddiqui, newcomer Nimrat Kaur more than holds her own. I am at a loss of words to describe her performance. Her character is nuanced, neglected, grieving and most complex yet Kaur's is the most memorable performance in the movie. Her role would be talked about for a long time to come.
While ironically, the whole serendipity bit of the film kicks off with a delivery mistake made by Bombay's Dabbawalas, world famous for their Six Sigma (99.999666% ) accuracy, Batra's movie reassures that even if the odds of finding true love in life is Six Sigma stacked against you, it is worth waiting for and taking your chances.
"The Lunchbox" is the most sumptuous and appetizing fare Bollywood has offered in ages. Just go for it
Debutant Director, Ritesh Batra, who is also done the script writing, has crafted an exquisite gem of a movie. Batra impresses because he does not set out to impress. He conveys eloquently the state of the mind of each character because he is economical with emotions and does not exaggerate. Batra makes a memorable movie with multiple layers because he is honest with himself and his craft. Ritesh Batra is simply magnificent.
The performances by the 3 leading actors, Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur are disarmingly natural, poignant and memorable. Pitted against the two stalwarts (comparatively speaking), Khan and Siddiqui, newcomer Nimrat Kaur more than holds her own. I am at a loss of words to describe her performance. Her character is nuanced, neglected, grieving and most complex yet Kaur's is the most memorable performance in the movie. Her role would be talked about for a long time to come.
While ironically, the whole serendipity bit of the film kicks off with a delivery mistake made by Bombay's Dabbawalas, world famous for their Six Sigma (99.999666% ) accuracy, Batra's movie reassures that even if the odds of finding true love in life is Six Sigma stacked against you, it is worth waiting for and taking your chances.
"The Lunchbox" is the most sumptuous and appetizing fare Bollywood has offered in ages. Just go for it
An old saying repeated in Ritesh Batra's charming The Lunchbox is that sometimes the wrong train will bring you to the right station. In this case, however, the train turns out to be a dabba (lunchbox), wrongly delivered by a dabbawala to a middle-aged government claims adjuster on the brink of retirement. It works out well even though, in reality, with about 5,000 dabbawalas in the city of Mumbai who deliver more than 130,000 lunch boxes each day, they rarely make a mistake. Written by Stefan Tomke in the mode of You Got Mail, Ila (Nimrat Kaur), a young housewife dutifully prepares a lunch for her emotionally distant husband every day and has it sent to him via the courier.
On the advice of her upstairs Auntie, Mrs. Deshpande (Bharati Achreka), Ila tries to have her husband notice her by putting more spice in the food. When it is wrongly delivered to Saajan (Irrfan Khan, Life of Pi), however, a series of unintended consequences unfold. What begins with a short note from Sajaan to Ila that "the food was salty today" develops into a series of exchanges passed back and forth in the lunchbox everyday in which the two open up to each other about their lives, memories, and their hopes and dreams for the future. A subplot involving Aslam Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), an aggressively upbeat successor to Sajaan, adds a touch of humor to the proceedings but also serves to draw a contrast between himself and the grumpy Saajan.
Both Aslam and Sajaan become more endearing, however, as the film progresses. While the ending may thwart expectations if you are used to having all the pieces neatly fit together, The Lunchbox mixes food and romance in a very appealing combination, removing any doubt that Ila and Sajaan have moved to a new level. Impeccably acted and beautifully realized, the film provides an honest appreciation of what it is like to live in Mumbai without exploiting its poverty for Western audiences. Though the wrong train may indeed bring you to the right station, ultimately there is no wrong train and no right station. As The Lunchbox demonstrates, there is just the train and the journey, and it's all perfect.
On the advice of her upstairs Auntie, Mrs. Deshpande (Bharati Achreka), Ila tries to have her husband notice her by putting more spice in the food. When it is wrongly delivered to Saajan (Irrfan Khan, Life of Pi), however, a series of unintended consequences unfold. What begins with a short note from Sajaan to Ila that "the food was salty today" develops into a series of exchanges passed back and forth in the lunchbox everyday in which the two open up to each other about their lives, memories, and their hopes and dreams for the future. A subplot involving Aslam Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), an aggressively upbeat successor to Sajaan, adds a touch of humor to the proceedings but also serves to draw a contrast between himself and the grumpy Saajan.
Both Aslam and Sajaan become more endearing, however, as the film progresses. While the ending may thwart expectations if you are used to having all the pieces neatly fit together, The Lunchbox mixes food and romance in a very appealing combination, removing any doubt that Ila and Sajaan have moved to a new level. Impeccably acted and beautifully realized, the film provides an honest appreciation of what it is like to live in Mumbai without exploiting its poverty for Western audiences. Though the wrong train may indeed bring you to the right station, ultimately there is no wrong train and no right station. As The Lunchbox demonstrates, there is just the train and the journey, and it's all perfect.
- howard.schumann
- Sep 30, 2013
- Permalink
The Lunchbox(Movie -2013) Review - The movie "The Last Samurai" ended with a quote something like "We all seek some small measure of peace, and few of us ever find". After many years "The Lunchbox", a movie from a completely different background and culture echoed the same thought to my ears, really it is never too late to start your life again. You can expect the movie will be a gem as you have the two best character-artists of this decade – Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui playing the lead roles. However I didn't expect Nimrat Kaur will also give such an awesome performance as I never followed her before except "Cadbuy Dairy Milk-Silk adds", and I apologize for my ignorance sincerely! Nimrat was equally great. This movie can be an excellent demonstration of what extraordinary performance really means in any acting-learning institute of any part of the world, trust me on this!!!
The start of the story - A frustrated housewife prepares an excellent lunch for her husband with great care. But unfortunately (or fortunately!), it reaches to an equally lonely person on the verge of retirement - Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan) whose wife died long back. This simple cross connection by Mumbai Dubbawalas in the age of digital era starts a beautiful and interesting romantic relationship however ending of which has been kept open-ended for our own imagination. At the same time we can see an excellent equation and emotional turmoil building up between Saajan /Irrfann, the serious and lonely parting boss and Shaikh/Nawazuddin, his future replacement, who is funny and enthusiastic and quiet opposite to his boss.In some cases Nawazuddin has overshadowed Irfann too! The direction was superb, specially the depiction of the supply chain of the Mumbai Dabbawalas through the city is just extraordinary.Hats-off Ritesh Batra for his unbelievable first time direction.
Disclaimer: This movie is 4.5/5 from me, 0.5 is deducted only for its little slow pace , otherwise it in an extraordinary story about very ordinary lives. To me, this movie deserves all the critical appreciations it has received both in India and Outside. Avoid only if you really hate slow paced realistic depiction about everyday common lives of Tom,Dick and Harry and expect only superheroes doing superhuman activities; otherwise this is a "MUST WATCH"!
The start of the story - A frustrated housewife prepares an excellent lunch for her husband with great care. But unfortunately (or fortunately!), it reaches to an equally lonely person on the verge of retirement - Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan) whose wife died long back. This simple cross connection by Mumbai Dubbawalas in the age of digital era starts a beautiful and interesting romantic relationship however ending of which has been kept open-ended for our own imagination. At the same time we can see an excellent equation and emotional turmoil building up between Saajan /Irrfann, the serious and lonely parting boss and Shaikh/Nawazuddin, his future replacement, who is funny and enthusiastic and quiet opposite to his boss.In some cases Nawazuddin has overshadowed Irfann too! The direction was superb, specially the depiction of the supply chain of the Mumbai Dabbawalas through the city is just extraordinary.Hats-off Ritesh Batra for his unbelievable first time direction.
Disclaimer: This movie is 4.5/5 from me, 0.5 is deducted only for its little slow pace , otherwise it in an extraordinary story about very ordinary lives. To me, this movie deserves all the critical appreciations it has received both in India and Outside. Avoid only if you really hate slow paced realistic depiction about everyday common lives of Tom,Dick and Harry and expect only superheroes doing superhuman activities; otherwise this is a "MUST WATCH"!
Once Rabindranath Tagore says about 'short stories'...
"Simple events of life happy or sad,/ Some sad strings from the train of forgetfulness,/ Not fraught with heavy descriptions,/ Not crowded with events,/ No advice, no philosophy/ Only the feeling that the story is not yet over/ Although there is no more to read..."
'The Lunchbox' is a perfect example of a unique 'short story'. A little love story with some little events and pain... but at the end there is a new beginning.
The story is about a lonely old widower and a young neglected house wife. They connected through a lunch box and some letters, and share some emotional thought and experience of there daily life with each other. They are totally stranger to each other, but love has found out it's own way to enter.
There is a basic question about "Love"... 'Is it possible to fall in love between two strangers'? "The Lunchbox" defines it brilliantly... 'Love has no definition and it never follows any rules. So there is a possibility to fall in love with somebody whom we never meet. People loves to fall in 'Love' again and again, it may be someone we know or don't know or whom we already loved with'.
Irfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are acted very well through out the movie. Direction of Ritesh Batra is just too much perfect. After interval, the movie is a little bit slow, may be it's a situational demand. Overall it's an wonderful experience.
Lastly, the best part of the movie is 'The Ending'. "Only the feeling that the story is not yet over, although there is no more to read". There is something unspoken in this movie. It depends viewers to viewers, where they actually like to go with "Sajan & Ila".
Strongly recommend to all cine goers... please watch it...
"Simple events of life happy or sad,/ Some sad strings from the train of forgetfulness,/ Not fraught with heavy descriptions,/ Not crowded with events,/ No advice, no philosophy/ Only the feeling that the story is not yet over/ Although there is no more to read..."
'The Lunchbox' is a perfect example of a unique 'short story'. A little love story with some little events and pain... but at the end there is a new beginning.
The story is about a lonely old widower and a young neglected house wife. They connected through a lunch box and some letters, and share some emotional thought and experience of there daily life with each other. They are totally stranger to each other, but love has found out it's own way to enter.
There is a basic question about "Love"... 'Is it possible to fall in love between two strangers'? "The Lunchbox" defines it brilliantly... 'Love has no definition and it never follows any rules. So there is a possibility to fall in love with somebody whom we never meet. People loves to fall in 'Love' again and again, it may be someone we know or don't know or whom we already loved with'.
Irfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are acted very well through out the movie. Direction of Ritesh Batra is just too much perfect. After interval, the movie is a little bit slow, may be it's a situational demand. Overall it's an wonderful experience.
Lastly, the best part of the movie is 'The Ending'. "Only the feeling that the story is not yet over, although there is no more to read". There is something unspoken in this movie. It depends viewers to viewers, where they actually like to go with "Sajan & Ila".
Strongly recommend to all cine goers... please watch it...
In an age when instant messaging, email, and various social media have made communication easier and quicker, debutant writer-director Ritesh Batra relies on scribbled notes tucked in tiffin boxes to deliver a charming, old-fashioned love story in The Lunchbox. There's a simple line in this sumptuous film that captures its essence beautifully: "Sometimes even the wrong train can take you to the right destination." It's a line that might help interpret the film's open ending, but one that also nicely sums up its unique premise.
I'm going with ten ratings for The Lunchbox. The greatest love stories are the ones that make you root for the protagonists to come together, despite their destinies. This film illustrates how love transforms the unlikeliest of people; it breaks down Saajan's walls and gives Ila the courage to fly. Treat yourself to The Lunchbox – it'll leave you with a craving to seek your own little happiness. Best film I've seen in a long time. Acting of Irfan 10/10 Film Rating - 10/10
I believe that this time LunchBox will surely make history in Oscars .
I'm going with ten ratings for The Lunchbox. The greatest love stories are the ones that make you root for the protagonists to come together, despite their destinies. This film illustrates how love transforms the unlikeliest of people; it breaks down Saajan's walls and gives Ila the courage to fly. Treat yourself to The Lunchbox – it'll leave you with a craving to seek your own little happiness. Best film I've seen in a long time. Acting of Irfan 10/10 Film Rating - 10/10
I believe that this time LunchBox will surely make history in Oscars .
- visheshvijay
- Sep 19, 2013
- Permalink
In Mumbai (formerly 'Bombay'), India, there is a very complex network of 5000 Dabbawallahs. Their job is to arrive at the homes of Indian workers to get homemade lunches from the wives and transport them all over the city so that the men can have hot, home-cooked meals every day. Then, after lunch, they collect all the empty lunch pails and deliver them to the wives. Despite this being a logistical nightmare, the meals get delivered to the right person all the time with very, very few mistakes—carried by hand and on bicycles and scooters by mostly illiterate men! With the movie Dabba, a mistake amazingly happens and a wife's meal arrives for a total stranger instead of her husband. At first, the man doesn't realize he's eating another man's lunch—he just thinks the restaurant that delivers his lunch box has suddenly improved! However, once the wife realizes her mistake, she sends the next meal along with a note explaining the mix-up—and soon the pair begin exchanging letters. At first, they are quite simple and formal. Later, they become much more complicated, as by now the wife has realized that her husband has been cheating—and this total stranger becomes her confidante. All during this long exchange of letters, the woman CONTINUES sending lunches to this stranger and they forge an odd friendship! There's far more to the film than this—see it yourself and you'll see what I mean.
Dabba is the sort of film Hollywood could never make. Part of it is, of course, because there is no comparable lunch system in the States. Part of it, too, is that the film does NOT have a perfect happy ending and it doesn't follow a typical formula. There is a lot of sadness and longing and the film leaves you with this, as it's not afraid to leave the audience slightly dissatisfied. Now I am NOT complaining—but Hollywood films seem to have an implicit understanding that everything must be resolved perfectly before a movie can end. Not so with Dabba. This might upset some viewers, but it shouldn't—it's still a very good movie. Plus, a 'Hollywoodized' ending would have been far less realistic. And, as far as realism goes, this Indian film is not typical of a Bollywood flick either. While it was directed and written by an Indian, Ritesh Batra, and stars Indian actors (Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur), it is also a French/German co-production. As such, it lacks the usual song and dance numbers you find in most Indian films and is only a little over an hour and a half (most Indian films are considerably longer—often twice as long or longer). Instead following convention, the film is all about realism. It makes for a nice change of pace even if the ending will be vaguely unsatisfying to many viewers. Worth seeing as long as you don't demand formula. And, worth seeing as long as you don't mind reading subtitles. A film that is truly unique and the acting is really lovely.
Dabba is the sort of film Hollywood could never make. Part of it is, of course, because there is no comparable lunch system in the States. Part of it, too, is that the film does NOT have a perfect happy ending and it doesn't follow a typical formula. There is a lot of sadness and longing and the film leaves you with this, as it's not afraid to leave the audience slightly dissatisfied. Now I am NOT complaining—but Hollywood films seem to have an implicit understanding that everything must be resolved perfectly before a movie can end. Not so with Dabba. This might upset some viewers, but it shouldn't—it's still a very good movie. Plus, a 'Hollywoodized' ending would have been far less realistic. And, as far as realism goes, this Indian film is not typical of a Bollywood flick either. While it was directed and written by an Indian, Ritesh Batra, and stars Indian actors (Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur), it is also a French/German co-production. As such, it lacks the usual song and dance numbers you find in most Indian films and is only a little over an hour and a half (most Indian films are considerably longer—often twice as long or longer). Instead following convention, the film is all about realism. It makes for a nice change of pace even if the ending will be vaguely unsatisfying to many viewers. Worth seeing as long as you don't demand formula. And, worth seeing as long as you don't mind reading subtitles. A film that is truly unique and the acting is really lovely.
- planktonrules
- May 12, 2014
- Permalink
- Horst_In_Translation
- Dec 15, 2013
- Permalink
The Lunchbox is gentle relationship movie between an elderly accountant on the verge of retirement and a housewife who marriage is deteriorating because of her husband's affair.
Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan) and Ila (Nimrat Kaur) get to know each other over a mix up of tiffin boxes. She has cooked for her husband which is delivered by the Mumbai dabbawalas.
They tend to have almost a 100% accuracy but Saajan receives Ila's food and enjoys the meal. It leads to an exchange of messages between the two as they talk about their lives.
Saajan a withdrawn widower starts to look forward not only to the meals but the messages. It brings colour to his life which is noticed by Shaikh who is meant to take over his job.
For Ila whose father is dying of cancer. She considers whether to develop her relationship with Saajan and arranges to meet up with him.
Director Ritesh Batra has delivered a gentle charming non Bollywood film. It is about characters in various stages of life who see a hint of finding happiness gain.
It reminded somewhat of the film 84 Charing Cross Road that featured Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft corresponding to each other over the years.
I did think Irrfan Khan was rather young to be playing Saajan. He was only in his mid 40s when this film was made, which meant that any romance between Saajan and Ila would had been more believable.
Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan) and Ila (Nimrat Kaur) get to know each other over a mix up of tiffin boxes. She has cooked for her husband which is delivered by the Mumbai dabbawalas.
They tend to have almost a 100% accuracy but Saajan receives Ila's food and enjoys the meal. It leads to an exchange of messages between the two as they talk about their lives.
Saajan a withdrawn widower starts to look forward not only to the meals but the messages. It brings colour to his life which is noticed by Shaikh who is meant to take over his job.
For Ila whose father is dying of cancer. She considers whether to develop her relationship with Saajan and arranges to meet up with him.
Director Ritesh Batra has delivered a gentle charming non Bollywood film. It is about characters in various stages of life who see a hint of finding happiness gain.
It reminded somewhat of the film 84 Charing Cross Road that featured Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft corresponding to each other over the years.
I did think Irrfan Khan was rather young to be playing Saajan. He was only in his mid 40s when this film was made, which meant that any romance between Saajan and Ila would had been more believable.
- Prismark10
- Jun 2, 2020
- Permalink
The first glimpse of the movie , promises you that it is't a 'just another regular bollywood movie', its refreshingly Fresh and New.
The beauty of the entire film lies in the subtlety, whether be it the story, the the actors, characters their mannerisms(when their lips quiver on getting excited, their long and deep searching eyes, the half smiles on the edges, when Ila first time presumes her husband to have an extra-marital affair). Again all of these things are very much there without they saying it explicitly so.
Very rarely you come across a movie that moves at a comfortable pace, not trying to either rush or stagnate itself at any point. The TG for this movie is definitely not people across all age groups as the producers claim, but it's specially for those who are happy or contented without searching for that something extra in their everyday lives. It doesn't talk about any extra ordinary accomplishments of individuals, nor does it talk about destiny, life or happiness. It just talks about very simple human behavior, when it comes to falling in love.
The end may or may not disappoint you...its very subjective(personally I was a lil), but yea you can tailor your apt end based on whether you are a optimist or a pessimist.
The beauty of the entire film lies in the subtlety, whether be it the story, the the actors, characters their mannerisms(when their lips quiver on getting excited, their long and deep searching eyes, the half smiles on the edges, when Ila first time presumes her husband to have an extra-marital affair). Again all of these things are very much there without they saying it explicitly so.
Very rarely you come across a movie that moves at a comfortable pace, not trying to either rush or stagnate itself at any point. The TG for this movie is definitely not people across all age groups as the producers claim, but it's specially for those who are happy or contented without searching for that something extra in their everyday lives. It doesn't talk about any extra ordinary accomplishments of individuals, nor does it talk about destiny, life or happiness. It just talks about very simple human behavior, when it comes to falling in love.
The end may or may not disappoint you...its very subjective(personally I was a lil), but yea you can tailor your apt end based on whether you are a optimist or a pessimist.
- ravi-cramchandani
- Sep 19, 2013
- Permalink
After watching this type of movie it is difficult not to write about this movie. After leaving the cinema hall only two words strike in my heart and mind WOW & HOW!! WOW factor for the superb concept,screenplay,characters,performance & especially some sweet moment which bring sweet smile on your face!! which make lunch box more delicious
HOW factor for how they can make such an unexpected end rest of the part is so outstanding,which make you more curious to know what next but there is nothing to watch next for the viewers!! viewers think its climax starting but that is actually end of the movie(endless)!! which make lunch box bit of salty!! but fully enjoy rest of parts and scenes and outstanding acting by all the characters
LAST WORDS: it is one of the best lunch box i ever eat(sorry mom) but at end because of this food,i suffered with some stomach problem!! but at whole enjoy the flavor!! Brain says 'NO' Heart says 'GO'..!!
HOW factor for how they can make such an unexpected end rest of the part is so outstanding,which make you more curious to know what next but there is nothing to watch next for the viewers!! viewers think its climax starting but that is actually end of the movie(endless)!! which make lunch box bit of salty!! but fully enjoy rest of parts and scenes and outstanding acting by all the characters
LAST WORDS: it is one of the best lunch box i ever eat(sorry mom) but at end because of this food,i suffered with some stomach problem!! but at whole enjoy the flavor!! Brain says 'NO' Heart says 'GO'..!!
- vihardesai41
- Sep 21, 2013
- Permalink
To be able to write an involving story on something considered impossible is the hallmark of a good writer. 'The Lunchbox' is based on such a story surrounding the dabbawalas of Mumbai.
One mistake that brews a terrific relationship between two strangers, so delicately portrayed through the exchange of letters. There are only three actors in this film and each has delivered a stellar performance. None of them have many dialogues, but their expressions and motions depict their character in such an excellent manner, you wished there were even fewer lines! Irrfan proves with every new film that he in fact is the best 'Khan' of Bollywood and Nawazuddin can just not disappoint. He's used his GoW success to break into films such as this one and done justice to each role. Nimrat Kaur's simplicity throughout the film looks so effortless and yet so unbelievable for the Bollywood of today, which is ever so increasingly synonymous of excessive glamour and fashion.
Cinematography is average, but again, this isn't a 'visual' movie, it's more of a story. Direction looks great as Ritesh has been able to get the best out of his cast. Well, you'd have to try real hard to have Irrfan and Nawaz amidst your cast and yet churn a flop, but the director does deserve some credit.
In my opinion, this is the second best film of the year after Madras Cafe. I haven't seen Bhaag Milkha Bhaag though, so that might change things for me. Either way, this is in no way a bore or a drag as the film keeps you hooked onto the amazing story line and individual performances.
Enjoy!
One mistake that brews a terrific relationship between two strangers, so delicately portrayed through the exchange of letters. There are only three actors in this film and each has delivered a stellar performance. None of them have many dialogues, but their expressions and motions depict their character in such an excellent manner, you wished there were even fewer lines! Irrfan proves with every new film that he in fact is the best 'Khan' of Bollywood and Nawazuddin can just not disappoint. He's used his GoW success to break into films such as this one and done justice to each role. Nimrat Kaur's simplicity throughout the film looks so effortless and yet so unbelievable for the Bollywood of today, which is ever so increasingly synonymous of excessive glamour and fashion.
Cinematography is average, but again, this isn't a 'visual' movie, it's more of a story. Direction looks great as Ritesh has been able to get the best out of his cast. Well, you'd have to try real hard to have Irrfan and Nawaz amidst your cast and yet churn a flop, but the director does deserve some credit.
In my opinion, this is the second best film of the year after Madras Cafe. I haven't seen Bhaag Milkha Bhaag though, so that might change things for me. Either way, this is in no way a bore or a drag as the film keeps you hooked onto the amazing story line and individual performances.
Enjoy!
Rarely an Indian film without its trademark dancing-and-singing routines, director/writer Ritesh Batra's feature debut marvellously utilises the exotic "dabbawalas" system of Mumbai, which is an intricate lunch delivery service to people at work from their their homes or restaurants and is remarkable for its accuracy, but Batra fictionalises a little mix- up of the system and links two strangers into an epistolary communication, and from there, their penfriend-ship will further sublimate into something more genuine and profound.
Saajan Fernandes (Khan) is a middled-aged widower on the brink of early retirement as a senior accountant, he is withdrawn, cynical and tries to dodge the responsibility to train his new replacement Sheikh (Siddiqui). One day his colourless life is revitalised by a mis- delivered lunch-box which he vastly enjoys. The lunch-box is made by Ila (Kaur), a housewife who attempts to win the her husband's heart through her cuisine. When Ila realises the delivery blunder, instead of righting the mistake, she starts to leave a note to this stranger in the lunch-box and Saajan writes back too, steadily, they exchange their own stories and life philosophy, which becomes the enzyme of a blossoming romance since both find a conduit and a confidant to change their disappointing status quo.
Like YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998, 7/10), THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940), the two protagonists are destined to meet sine they are not like Helene Hanff and Frank P. Doel in 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD (1987) who are divided by the Atlantic ocean and deferred by a difficult economy situation. It is quite easy for them to meet when all the romantic buildup reaches its threshold, Ila finds out her husband is cheating on her whereas Saajan gets close with the orphan Sheikh, takes him as his protégé, and is ready to turn a new chapter of his life. But Batra refuses to hold out such an easy pass for their significant first meeting, for the sake of narrative twist, he wields the "sudden" epiphany of age difference as the obstacle to morally righteously curb the passion from Saajan's side. And from then on, the film descends into a limbo of indecision, through Saajan's capricious determinations, it actually reflects Batra's insecurity of how to consummate the story in an unconventional way, as his first feature, his endeavour fails to achieve that goal with the over-contrived open ending.
Performances are uniformly pleasant to watch, Khan's goggled eyes alone can patently exhume his deepest inner feelings to an affecting effect. Kaur, also downplays the default setting of an under-appreciated wife and evinces her steely resolution of a woman doesn't yield to an unhealthy marriage. Siddiqui's Sheikh. comes around often as comic relief with an inherent optimistic spirit, registers a well-developed balance of humour and earnestness.
The film's retro flair in rediscovering the magic power of authentic writings is naturalistic-ally endearing to endorse, and "sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station", is the motto conspicuously referred three times along the whole movie, THE LUNCHBOX is a rarity among the usual Bollywood products, its message can reach unanimously to every soul who is inspired to find its rightful purpose, and its art-house appeal can lure those who are disinterested in Indian cinema (like myself) into its poetic embodiment of an unusual encounter.
Saajan Fernandes (Khan) is a middled-aged widower on the brink of early retirement as a senior accountant, he is withdrawn, cynical and tries to dodge the responsibility to train his new replacement Sheikh (Siddiqui). One day his colourless life is revitalised by a mis- delivered lunch-box which he vastly enjoys. The lunch-box is made by Ila (Kaur), a housewife who attempts to win the her husband's heart through her cuisine. When Ila realises the delivery blunder, instead of righting the mistake, she starts to leave a note to this stranger in the lunch-box and Saajan writes back too, steadily, they exchange their own stories and life philosophy, which becomes the enzyme of a blossoming romance since both find a conduit and a confidant to change their disappointing status quo.
Like YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998, 7/10), THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940), the two protagonists are destined to meet sine they are not like Helene Hanff and Frank P. Doel in 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD (1987) who are divided by the Atlantic ocean and deferred by a difficult economy situation. It is quite easy for them to meet when all the romantic buildup reaches its threshold, Ila finds out her husband is cheating on her whereas Saajan gets close with the orphan Sheikh, takes him as his protégé, and is ready to turn a new chapter of his life. But Batra refuses to hold out such an easy pass for their significant first meeting, for the sake of narrative twist, he wields the "sudden" epiphany of age difference as the obstacle to morally righteously curb the passion from Saajan's side. And from then on, the film descends into a limbo of indecision, through Saajan's capricious determinations, it actually reflects Batra's insecurity of how to consummate the story in an unconventional way, as his first feature, his endeavour fails to achieve that goal with the over-contrived open ending.
Performances are uniformly pleasant to watch, Khan's goggled eyes alone can patently exhume his deepest inner feelings to an affecting effect. Kaur, also downplays the default setting of an under-appreciated wife and evinces her steely resolution of a woman doesn't yield to an unhealthy marriage. Siddiqui's Sheikh. comes around often as comic relief with an inherent optimistic spirit, registers a well-developed balance of humour and earnestness.
The film's retro flair in rediscovering the magic power of authentic writings is naturalistic-ally endearing to endorse, and "sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station", is the motto conspicuously referred three times along the whole movie, THE LUNCHBOX is a rarity among the usual Bollywood products, its message can reach unanimously to every soul who is inspired to find its rightful purpose, and its art-house appeal can lure those who are disinterested in Indian cinema (like myself) into its poetic embodiment of an unusual encounter.
- lasttimeisaw
- Aug 14, 2015
- Permalink
- maurice_yacowar
- May 12, 2014
- Permalink
Must watch with a full stomach, else you'll have a watering mouth every five minutes while watching the plot. India is a country where we give utmost importance to food & family. This story, packed in a Lunchbox, comes to your table & gives you a flavor of Indian ethnicity & the emotions we go through in everyday life !
The overcrowded local trains, Harvard certified Mumbai Dabbawalas, Amidst busy working hours, an irritating yet likable junior And the best friend "Aunty" to a direction less housewife
All this should be enough to drag you to the cinema house & enjoy the spicy curry in the LUNCHBOX.
The overcrowded local trains, Harvard certified Mumbai Dabbawalas, Amidst busy working hours, an irritating yet likable junior And the best friend "Aunty" to a direction less housewife
All this should be enough to drag you to the cinema house & enjoy the spicy curry in the LUNCHBOX.
- sonalijagwani
- Sep 20, 2013
- Permalink
THE LUNCHBOX- A poignant and heart warming tale that seems like a whiff of fresh air amidst all the hullabaloo the audiences have been exposed to in recent memory. It has depicted the pathos of 2 principal characters with panache n each n every single frame of the film seems to have been meticulously dealt with. One dialogue still lingers in your mind long after the film has finished "Sometimes the wrong train takes u to the right destination". It's so so good to see good ol' letters being exchanged in an era of e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp n mobile phones. Somewhere it touches the very core n essence of that golden era which I had never been born in but now surely have the experience to cherish it via such gems which come once in a long, long while. The best part is that all melodrama has been avoided except for the cameo by Lilette Dubey. All the emotions have been expressed in a very subtle manner in contrast to over-the-top melodrama which has been the staple diet of Bollywood films n how they play with our emotions by being tearjerkers. This film pricks your conscience n compels u to think. It makes u root for the protagonists even as they march onto their respective destinies. It makes u realize there's a silver lining of hope that really makes u fly. I really wish if it could be India's official entry to the Oscars for 2013.
- karun_kumar
- Sep 21, 2013
- Permalink
- claudio_carvalho
- Jun 13, 2015
- Permalink
A complete experience, worth every penny spent, no song and dance routines, no action scenes, no loud jokes, and still this one is exquisite ........... for the simple reason that it is story telling at its best , most of the times, there were no dialogs , but the message was conveyed every time.
With the fine ensemble of actors, the performances need not be spoken about , Irfan , Nimrat and Nawazuddin were so real and so very much like people around us and not to forget the aunty upstairs (not showing her was a masterstroke) .........
Bravo to the entire team for daring to make a movie so unconventional and yet so amazing !!! Hats Off !!!
With the fine ensemble of actors, the performances need not be spoken about , Irfan , Nimrat and Nawazuddin were so real and so very much like people around us and not to forget the aunty upstairs (not showing her was a masterstroke) .........
Bravo to the entire team for daring to make a movie so unconventional and yet so amazing !!! Hats Off !!!
Imagine a intimate multi course meal... The premise of the taste provided by a subtle soup... The appetite increases with a delicious appetizer ... The bitter sweetness of a Karela Ki Sabji ... The softness and comfort of Paneer Kofta... The whiff of romance like a fragrant Mutton Biriyani ... The subtlety yet spiciness of a Keema Pav ... The wholeness and simplicity of Daal Chawal ... The added tang of a pickle ... The sweetness of a Rabdi and the twist of a Paan ...
The flavor of The Lunchbox lingers on your taste buds long after the ending credits roll ... making you long for a second helping and another helping and another ... The performances , the beautiful yet simple story of a love that begins with a small humanly mistake of probably the most efficient set of people in India and not to forget the brilliant ending which basically forces the viewer to make his/her assumption make The Lunchbox an excellent meal. A meal which is made and served with love that not only lingers in your taste buds but in your mind for days to come.
Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddqui in the film are like the wonderful south Indian breakfast combination of Idli-Vada ... you cannot imagine this combination without any one of the components. A beautiful and haunting turn by Nimrat Kaur. Its as if every meal she cooks or every dish she prepares... its her life in the dishes. Credit goes to Ritesh Batra for having a masterstroke in the form of the ever helping Aunty ... you got to watch the movie to find it out.
For once chuck the spicy fare or the continental gourmet creations ... go for this homemade meal ... Bhindi and Paneer Kofta never tasted this good.
The flavor of The Lunchbox lingers on your taste buds long after the ending credits roll ... making you long for a second helping and another helping and another ... The performances , the beautiful yet simple story of a love that begins with a small humanly mistake of probably the most efficient set of people in India and not to forget the brilliant ending which basically forces the viewer to make his/her assumption make The Lunchbox an excellent meal. A meal which is made and served with love that not only lingers in your taste buds but in your mind for days to come.
Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddqui in the film are like the wonderful south Indian breakfast combination of Idli-Vada ... you cannot imagine this combination without any one of the components. A beautiful and haunting turn by Nimrat Kaur. Its as if every meal she cooks or every dish she prepares... its her life in the dishes. Credit goes to Ritesh Batra for having a masterstroke in the form of the ever helping Aunty ... you got to watch the movie to find it out.
For once chuck the spicy fare or the continental gourmet creations ... go for this homemade meal ... Bhindi and Paneer Kofta never tasted this good.
- sourish-halder
- Sep 19, 2013
- Permalink
Hmmm, what to say... I was enjoying the movie and then, just a bit too abruptly, the last half hour didn't fit... it just didn't do anything... it went flatter than a pappadum.
The movie has its rhythm, people are doing predictable things that people in real life or movies do, and then the acting, the script and the nuance shifted so that the viewer was left with no idea what changed, leading up to an ending which I thoroughly hated.
Almost two hours of watching these people's lives so we kind of, sort of, maybe, get a hint of perhaps there's going to be a... something.
Pffft... hey, I get that real life is potatoes or portatos or tomatoes or tomartoes but I think the ending really did not deduce very much at all... I presume we are supposed to think that the lunch system never fails and so, sitting in his delivery van, all the wonderful things will occur... silly movie really, in hindsight. Did not live up to the great reviews everywhere.
A bit too precious, a bit too art house, a bit too cute. 6 out of 10 because I liked the actors very much.
The movie has its rhythm, people are doing predictable things that people in real life or movies do, and then the acting, the script and the nuance shifted so that the viewer was left with no idea what changed, leading up to an ending which I thoroughly hated.
Almost two hours of watching these people's lives so we kind of, sort of, maybe, get a hint of perhaps there's going to be a... something.
Pffft... hey, I get that real life is potatoes or portatos or tomatoes or tomartoes but I think the ending really did not deduce very much at all... I presume we are supposed to think that the lunch system never fails and so, sitting in his delivery van, all the wonderful things will occur... silly movie really, in hindsight. Did not live up to the great reviews everywhere.
A bit too precious, a bit too art house, a bit too cute. 6 out of 10 because I liked the actors very much.
- eyeintrees
- Nov 14, 2014
- Permalink
- kaul-tushar
- Sep 20, 2013
- Permalink
'Dabba', or it's English title 'The Lunchbox', is the debut feature film of Ritesh Batra. Following the lives of Saajan (Irrfan Khan, Life of Pi), an office worker on the brink of retirement, and Ila (Nimrat Kaur, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana), a housewife trying to rekindle the romance between her passionless husband. Upon making him a special lunch, her meal is sent to Saajan instead, where an unlikely friendship blossoms.
Batra has done a wonderful job at capturing the lifestyle of modern Indian culture - claustrophobic trains, busy streets and rustic buildings are among the many backdrops this movie has to offer. Colourful without being overwhelming, DOP Michael Simmons has crafted a very beautiful film. Batra has also pulled out some exceptional, low-key performances from Khan and Kaur. The movie is paced pretty well, though the 100 minutes did feel like a bit over 2 hours.
Now, the main issue with the film - this movie is billed as a romance, the tag-line is "Can you fall in love with someone you have never met?" and at no stage did I feel the romance between the two leads were believable at all. The two exchanging notes through titular lunchbox, and are talking about everyday, mundane activities for most of the film, so when the romantic aspect was introduced, I was very surprised. The actual premise of the film is not original at all, (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), however, in this case I felt that the way the plot was introduced and progressed felt really contrived. The film is very much a character study, but Khan definitely gets way more focus than need be in the film, leaving Kaur's character of the lonely lover rather one-note and two-dimensional. The child actors are also rather wooden, but they aren't on screen for a large amount of time, so the movie isn't too grating to watch when they're around. The ending, while bittersweet, is rather unsatisfying, leading the audience to think that Batra himself wasn't sure how to end the picture.
Overall, it's still an enjoyable, well-made flick, but a rather overrated one at that. 6/10.
Batra has done a wonderful job at capturing the lifestyle of modern Indian culture - claustrophobic trains, busy streets and rustic buildings are among the many backdrops this movie has to offer. Colourful without being overwhelming, DOP Michael Simmons has crafted a very beautiful film. Batra has also pulled out some exceptional, low-key performances from Khan and Kaur. The movie is paced pretty well, though the 100 minutes did feel like a bit over 2 hours.
Now, the main issue with the film - this movie is billed as a romance, the tag-line is "Can you fall in love with someone you have never met?" and at no stage did I feel the romance between the two leads were believable at all. The two exchanging notes through titular lunchbox, and are talking about everyday, mundane activities for most of the film, so when the romantic aspect was introduced, I was very surprised. The actual premise of the film is not original at all, (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), however, in this case I felt that the way the plot was introduced and progressed felt really contrived. The film is very much a character study, but Khan definitely gets way more focus than need be in the film, leaving Kaur's character of the lonely lover rather one-note and two-dimensional. The child actors are also rather wooden, but they aren't on screen for a large amount of time, so the movie isn't too grating to watch when they're around. The ending, while bittersweet, is rather unsatisfying, leading the audience to think that Batra himself wasn't sure how to end the picture.
Overall, it's still an enjoyable, well-made flick, but a rather overrated one at that. 6/10.
- jdowlicious
- Aug 15, 2014
- Permalink
- monikakoul30
- Sep 30, 2013
- Permalink