The Lunchbox

The debutant director, Ritesh Bhatra picked a unique situation and sautéed a lovely tale on low flame. Ela, the housewife played wonderfully by Nimrat Kaur routinely marinating and frying Indian cuisines and curries as if her life spotlights preparing lunch for spouse. As one day the lunchbox delivered to wrong address while traveling in crates of Daabe waala services demurely captures the crowds of Mumbai, the grays, smokes, and crinkled silence spread on the vista. Here we meet Saajan, the office worker surrounded by the ordinariness of white bulbs and dull cabinets oozing with papers. Papers with no stories or illustrations but the lengthy record of numbers stacking the mundane. Irrfan Khan aced the performance.

 

As Ela finds out the glitch and starts communicating by old school chit-in-the-lunchbox style, the protagonists share thoughts and feelings although never present in single frame. The cordiality gains a rhythm while gripping the notions of two worlds. There was this one scene which communicates the lonely by unwelcoming lump of noodles and the view of neighbors enjoying food of pouring smokes and bright colors.

 

The visual tale follows this structure of break scenes to drop cues of the narrative and the dialogues which rolls the deeper philosophies. Some mentions like the late wife of Saajan and father of Ila also add the layer of death and its allegorical marriage with food.

 

The supporting character Sheikh played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui also ensures his warm presence. The story brewed hope but stayed loyal, hence presenting an open ending. Make some time for this award-winning film.

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Ayesha Musharaf

20-09-2020

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