Quick Info
This is such a quietly affecting film from India that easily gets overlooked but really deserves way more love. “The Lunchbox” centers around an accidental exchange of lunchboxes in Mumbai—an unlikely mistake that sparks a kind of pen-pal romance between a lonely widower nearing retirement (Irrfan Khan) and a neglected housewife (Nimrat Kaur). The film manages to turn these small, everyday routines into something almost poetic, and it’s all so subtle that you barely even notice how invested you’ve become.
What stood out for me was the way director Ritesh Batra uses silence and unspoken gestures; you feel so much tension or excitement in a look, a sigh, or the way food is prepared. The food itself almost becomes a character! The cinematography is simple but incredibly effective—the bustle of Mumbai, cramped apartments, and the randomness of the city’s lunch delivery system all help build this believable, lived-in world.
Irrfan Khan, as always, is wonderful—he brings a kind of gentle sadness and dry humor to his role, and his chemistry with Nimrat Kaur is mostly delivered through handwritten notes rather than shared scenes. That said, I wished Nimrat Kaur’s storyline got a bit more breathing space; there are hints of deeper struggles that I would have loved to explore more. The pacing can be a little slow at times, but I found myself appreciating the film’s patience rather than getting bored.
It doesn’t try to resolve everything in neat little bows, which I actually found refreshing. If you like stories where not everything goes as planned, and people just… keep living, mistakes and all, this fits the bill. There’s also a wonderful supporting turn by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who brings levity and a bit of unpredictability to the otherwise restrained tone.
You would enjoy this if you love quiet, character-driven dramas that unfold at a languid pace, or if you’re into films like “Lost in Translation” or “Paterson” where the little moments say everything. It’s a film about loneliness, connection, and second chances, and it lingers long after it’s over.
