IF YOU WERE TO SEE A MOVIE THIS SEPTEMBER- MAKE IT LUNCHBOX.
After ages you have such a simple story, brilliantly directed by RITESH BATRA, absolutely empowered cast and a movie that you really do not want to end! You want to be part of the plot- move along with the characters- silently watching from the sidelines- cautious not to disturb them.
I rarely give Stars to a movie but this one makes me break my rule as it any day cross 4.5 Stars.
IT’S ABOUT HOPE- IT’S ABOUT LONELINESS’- IT’S ABOUT COMPROMISE AND IT’S ABOUT ADAPTING TO SITUATIONS- it’s about the wrong train that may take you to the right destination.
AMIUL HOARDING LUNCHBOX
The story is simple. The six sigma rated- DABBA SERVICE of Mumbai for a change makes an error. Thus bringing in touch – almost to retire widower SAAJAN FERNANDES ( IRRFAN KHAN in yet another powerful performance ) and a wife who is wanting to please her husband in a relationship that is fraying at the edges- ILA ( NIMRAT KAUR). Her life is just a routine- and directed toward keeping family happy- till the time Dabba packed by her for the hubby- wrongly lands at Irrfan table.
And then there is NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI in a role of Irrfan Junior. He has played the role perfectly and as an audience- you like him and pity him at different situations.
They realise that wrong DABBA is being served – yet use that as a medium of exchanging notes- letters that opens a new world of possibilities and brings in open their current situations. Love seems a natural outcome but is understated and restrained. Will they finally ever meet? Will they even miss the train which for all the reason could be the wrong one – yet capable of taking them to the right destination.
This surely is complimented or rather enhanced by brilliant screenplay- transition that is worth mentioning and experiencing. Dialogues are special and show the control and detailing that has resulted in the work. There is crafty use of off screen characters- who are very much part of the story- and yet you do not see them. The only regret- maybe the letters which are in English could do with a Hindi dub- or maybe have a Hindi sub-title. Each line in those letters ( or rather notes) is worth the emotion it has been rendered with.
The Lunchbox . Direction: Ritesh Batra. Actors: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui , Lillete Dubey
