So, The buzz was that "The Lunchbox" would go to the Oscars & i felt "Wow" it would be amazing, but the, after 2-3 days, the news came that a Gujarati movie "The Good Road" is the official entry from India, to the Oscars. So, their was a crazy feeling in my head to see the movie "The Lunchbox" asap. Finally, yesterday i was one of the lucky ones to see the movie & by seeing the movie i thought, "Why the hell this movie did not make it to The Oscars?". Some people asked me, is it really that good?, to those i say, YES..!! It is one of the finest movies, i've seen in years. Bollywood hasn't done this before. It never narrated a love story between 2 people, where they both haven't met. But, still you feel over-whelming feeling of completeness of emotions throughout the movie. The film is directed by Riteish Batra, a debut director, who has done a marvellous work.
(Irrfan Khan & Nawazzuddin Siddiqui in a scene from "The Lunchbox")
The Lunchbox, has seen a remarkable tour of the global festival circuit, including, Cannes, where it was chosen as "Critics Choice Best Movie". Playing the cupid here is, Food, yess heard it right, Food, in a tale of an aging man, who is on the brink of his retirement & a housewife dividing here time between cooking & a loveless marriage. The only film that comes to mind that is drawn on the subject Food, is Stanley Ka Dabba, which is why "The Lunchbox" is such a unique experience. The screenplay of the movie is splendid & revolves around the "Dabbawallah" culture of Mumbai, Delivery men, who transports the lunchboxe's from housewives to their husbands. The system shows that the chances of wrong delivery is one in milions.
Such error lands the lunchbox of Ila, played by Nimrat Kaur, prepared for her husband on the table of Saajan Fernadez, played by Irrfan Khan, a government official & a loner who is just few months away from retiring. Ila gets to know about this mix-up soon enough, but doesn't tell to her husband, who would not care anyway, whereas, Fernandez doesn't mind this mix-up, as the hotel from which he gets his lunchbox, cannot cook meals as delicious. This continues & the 2 strangers begin to mix-up with each other & they start an unusual relationship, which we haven't seen in Indian cinema, through the notes they regularly exchange in the lunchbox. In time, the notes begin to get more intimate & soon they start get to know more about each other's life, their problems etc. Irrfan Khan is just perfect in rendering a character far more than his actual age. He doesn't let things happen fastly, he evolves Fernandez from a grumpy old man to someone who finds hope in love. Nimrat Kaur, is beautifull, looks fresh & is been captured quite interestingly. She is a big reason that movie remains adorable.
The narration of this movie is enriched by some more more chaacters, who are essential in the movie, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui, plays Aslam in the movie, who is a good natured guy, a trainer who will take his seat after his retirement, he plays a vital role in Fernandez's transformation. But, the most awesomest character is of "Uparwali Aunty ji", in whole movie you won't get to see her, she only talks to Ila through the windows, when she cooks. Bharti Achrekar's voice is a class voice act as auntyji.
Ritesh Batra's grasp of imagery belies the fact that he is a debutant, as Mumbai comes alive in its crowded locals, children playing cricket on the streets, rickshaws and ramshackle taxis. The imagining of the localities Fernandez and Ila reside in is quietly used to define their socio-cultural divide. Overall, the tone maintained never misses the point that The Lunchbox is essentially a love story. GO, DON'T MISS THIS ONE..!!
Cast - Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui, Bharti Achrekar
Director - Riteish Batra
My Rating - ****
(Irrfan Khan & Nawazzuddin Siddiqui in a scene from "The Lunchbox")
The Lunchbox, has seen a remarkable tour of the global festival circuit, including, Cannes, where it was chosen as "Critics Choice Best Movie". Playing the cupid here is, Food, yess heard it right, Food, in a tale of an aging man, who is on the brink of his retirement & a housewife dividing here time between cooking & a loveless marriage. The only film that comes to mind that is drawn on the subject Food, is Stanley Ka Dabba, which is why "The Lunchbox" is such a unique experience. The screenplay of the movie is splendid & revolves around the "Dabbawallah" culture of Mumbai, Delivery men, who transports the lunchboxe's from housewives to their husbands. The system shows that the chances of wrong delivery is one in milions.
Such error lands the lunchbox of Ila, played by Nimrat Kaur, prepared for her husband on the table of Saajan Fernadez, played by Irrfan Khan, a government official & a loner who is just few months away from retiring. Ila gets to know about this mix-up soon enough, but doesn't tell to her husband, who would not care anyway, whereas, Fernandez doesn't mind this mix-up, as the hotel from which he gets his lunchbox, cannot cook meals as delicious. This continues & the 2 strangers begin to mix-up with each other & they start an unusual relationship, which we haven't seen in Indian cinema, through the notes they regularly exchange in the lunchbox. In time, the notes begin to get more intimate & soon they start get to know more about each other's life, their problems etc. Irrfan Khan is just perfect in rendering a character far more than his actual age. He doesn't let things happen fastly, he evolves Fernandez from a grumpy old man to someone who finds hope in love. Nimrat Kaur, is beautifull, looks fresh & is been captured quite interestingly. She is a big reason that movie remains adorable.
The narration of this movie is enriched by some more more chaacters, who are essential in the movie, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui, plays Aslam in the movie, who is a good natured guy, a trainer who will take his seat after his retirement, he plays a vital role in Fernandez's transformation. But, the most awesomest character is of "Uparwali Aunty ji", in whole movie you won't get to see her, she only talks to Ila through the windows, when she cooks. Bharti Achrekar's voice is a class voice act as auntyji.
Ritesh Batra's grasp of imagery belies the fact that he is a debutant, as Mumbai comes alive in its crowded locals, children playing cricket on the streets, rickshaws and ramshackle taxis. The imagining of the localities Fernandez and Ila reside in is quietly used to define their socio-cultural divide. Overall, the tone maintained never misses the point that The Lunchbox is essentially a love story. GO, DON'T MISS THIS ONE..!!
Cast - Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui, Bharti Achrekar
Director - Riteish Batra
My Rating - ****
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