Food for the Soul --  The Lunchbox , a new film by debut director, Ritesh Batra, is a treat for discerning audiences who enjoy movies like  Chocolat  &  The Go-Between!

It wowed audiences at the Cannes Film Festival 2013, and the film is now coming to your local independent cinema, Watermans from (April 18- April 30 show times, vary) for an extended release. 

The Lunchbox , is the story of a lonely housewife, Ila Vaid (played by Nimrat Kaur) and curmudgeonly insurance claims clerk, Saajan Fernandes (an ever versatile, Irrfan Khan) on the verge of retirement. She’s trying to get her hubby to be interested in her, so she makes him tasty lunches, and he’s looking towards a bleak future of retirement whilst training his incumbent the affable, Aslam Shaikh (Nawazzudin Siddiqui).

The lunchboxes get mixed and these two start communicating by notes left in the tiffin box, although they have never met.  To know, what happens next? And will they won’t they? Come and see the movie, and enjoy the deliciously delicate way in which the story simmers and the plot reaches the denouement.

Alongside this, we get a glimpse into the world of the ordinary ‘middle-class Indian’—from the wife, who can’t go out because she doesn’t have a job, to the woman upstairs who we hear and never see and who cares for her invalid husband, and the optimistic young man who is looking forward to his future.

The Lunchbox

Although, initially the director had wanted to make this film as a homage to the 5000, ‘dabbawallahs’ of Mumbai – those delivery men who pick up ‘lunchboxes’ from ordinary middle-class homes and deliver them safely to the named recipients in the offices every day without fail. However, this is the one time where the ‘ dabba ’ ends up in the wrong place and thus becomes a starting point for the most unlikely of all ‘romantic stories’.

Watermans caught up with the two leads, Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur at the Cannes Film Festival 2013, where the film received the “Critics Week Viewers’ Choice Award”.

“There are certain stories, which you’d like as an actor, and I connected with this emotionally,” said Khan, revealing that initially he was “bothered” at having to play an older character.

“I have been playing older characters, most of the time,  either in  The Life of Pi, The Namesake  or  In Treatment  (US TV Series), so sometimes it gets on to your nerves because you don’t want to play a similar kind of age all the time.”

The 47-year old confided that he always enjoys playing ‘love stories’ and was attracted by the “unique emotional appeal” in the story, so much so, that he became an Executive producer for the film, and fought without success to get the film considered as India’s entry to the 2014 Academy Award (The Film Federation of India, selected another film, which failed to get nominated).

Meanwhile his co-star, Nimrat Kaur, who plays Ila, said that as soon as she read the script she wanted to be a part of it; “I was mesmerised by it”. This is her second feature film (the first was  Peddlers ) and her background is in theatre productions. Incidentally another theatre stalwart in the film is Lillete Dubey (whose company, Primetime theatre, are a regular feature at Watermans).

Critics have been charmed by this film and it has been lauded with superlatives: “ Delightful...handled with wit, charm and poignancy ,” says David Parkinson of EMPIRE, while Jay Weissberg from VARIETY calls it “ A feel-good movie that touches the heart ”.  “A Charming,Moving Cinematic Takeout Treat ,” proclaims, Kevin Jagernauth of INDIEWIRE, and the last word goes to Aniruddha Guha of TIME OUT MUMBAI “ exceptional... a rare gem that arrives only once in a few years.”

The film also received the ‘Filmfare critics award for Best Movie’ in 2014.

The Lunchbox  is a quiet gentle film that will warm your heart and leave you wanting to sample the delights of the Guru Tandoori! So come and curry favour at Watermans until April 30.

Listings information

Watermans Cinema, Fri 18 April – Wed 30 April

The Lunchbox PG (show times vary)  visit  www.watermans.org.uk

Director, Ritesh Batra

Cast: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazzuddin Siddiqui

Box Office:  020 8232 1010

Tickets:  Full Price (£8.50) Conc: (£7.50) Mondays £5.00