The Lunchbox
Director: Ritesh Batra
Actors: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
PlotIn Mumbai, a misdelivered lunchbox sparks an unexpected connection between Ila, a neglected housewife, and Saajan, a solitary office worker nearing retirement. Ila meticulously prepares meals hoping to rekindle her relationship with her indifferent husband, but when the lunchbox intended for him ends up on Saajan's desk, an unintended correspondence begins. Fascinated by the quality of the food and touched by the personal notes Ila inserts daily, Saajan responds with gratitude. Their exchanges gradually evolve into deeper conversations about life, dreams, and regrets.
Through their written words, both find solace and escape from their personal frustrations—Ila with her struggling marriage and Saajan with his imminent retirement and loneliness. As days turn into weeks, the connection grows more profound, albeit anonymously through notes tucked into the lunchbox. This inadvertent relationship propels them to confront their unfulfilled desires and search for meaning beyond their life's routine confines. Their bond highlights the intertwining of their stories, leading to an inevitable point where these hidden emotions compel them to consider actions that might alter the fabric of their lives.
Writers: Ritesh Batra, Vasan Bala
Release Date: 20 Sep 2013
Runtime: 104 min
Rating: PG
Country: India, France, Germany, United States, Canada
Language: Hindi
Home Video Reviews
The Lunchbox on Blu-ray boasts outstanding video and audio quality, complemented by a richly scripted, emotionally detailed film; highly recommended despite minimal special features.
Read our review of The Lunchbox Blu-ray Dabba to find out more