The Lunchbox(2013)
The Lunchbox is a 2013 Hindi drama film written and directed by Ritesh Batra. It stars Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The story follows a young housewife in Mumbai whose lunchbox is mistakenly delivered to a lonely widower. They begin exchanging notes through the lunchbox, forming an unusual bond. The film is set against the backdrop of Mumbai's famous Dabbawala lunchbox delivery system. It was praised for its gentle storytelling, strong performances, and realistic depiction of urban loneliness. The Lunchbox premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won several international awards. It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. The film was released in India on September 20, 2013, and later streamed on various platforms.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 20 September 2013
- Director
- Ritesh Batra
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Rating
- 7.8/10
Storyline
A young housewife named Ila cooks a special lunch for her husband every day. But a mistake by Mumbai's Dabbawalas sends her lunchbox to a lonely widower named Saajan. They start writing notes to each other hidden inside the lunchbox. Their secret correspondence grows into a deep emotional connection. Both must decide if they are brave enough to meet in person and change their lives forever.
“Sometimes the wrong train takes you to the right station”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for The Lunchbox
Cast reunions in this film: Irrfan Khan & Nawazuddin Siddiqui (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was shot in just 28 days, using many real locations in Mumbai without permits.
- The director, Ritesh Batra, spent time with actual dabbawalas to research their system before writing the script.
- Irrfan Khan was not the first choice for the male lead; the role was initially offered to Anupam Kher.
- The film was rejected by many Indian producers but found funding through international co-producers in France, Germany, and India.
- It was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated.
- A real-life dabbawala, who appears in the film, was invited to the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
- The handwritten notes between the characters were actually written by the actors during filming to keep the scenes authentic.
