The Lunchbox (2013)

The Lunchbox (2013) is a gentle, slow-burning drama-romance set in Mumbai that follows an improbable mistake in the city’s famous dabbawala lunch-delivery system. When a homemade tiffin intended for Ila’s estranged husband is delivered to Saajan Fernandes, a lonely, near‑retirement widower, the two strangers begin exchanging handwritten notes tucked into the lunchbox. What starts as gratitude for a delicious meal grows into a quiet, intimate correspondence that lets both characters share hopes, regrets and small comforts they lack in their daily lives. Watching the film you’ll experience an intimate portrait of urban life and human longing — small moments (a lovingly prepared lunch, a discreet note, a pause on a train platform) are rendered with warmth and detail. The pace is deliberate and observant: the story unfolds through conversations and gestures rather than melodrama, building emotional connection slowly and realistically. Humor and poignancy sit side by side, and the film rewards attention to nuance — the changing rhythms of the characters’ lives, the rhythms of Mumbai, and the slow bloom of trust between them. Themes include loneliness, the search for connection, the power of ordinary kindness, and the bittersweet nature of second chances. The film’s atmosphere is cozy and restrained, anchored by strong performances and a focus on sensory pleasures (especially food) as a bridge between people. Overall, The Lunchbox offers a tender, reflective viewing experience that lingers — moving without being sentimental, and leaving you thinking about the ways small acts can reshape lives.

Actors: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Director: Ritesh Batra

Runtime: 104 min

Genres: Drama, Romance

6.8 /10 76 /100 7.8 /10 7.4 /10