MOVIE | The Indian film "The Lunchbox", a major hit in the US and Europe.

MOVIE | An Indian Film That Became a Smash Hit Across the US and Europe

The Lunchbox: A Chance Encounter Sparked by a Delivery Mix-Up

Set in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, "The Lunchbox" tells the story of a housewife who pours her heart into cooking to win back her husband's affection, and a man nearing early retirement who meet through a mistaken lunch delivery. This film, brimming with emotion, became an unprecedented hit not only in India but also across the US and Europe. The much-talked-about film will be released nationwide on August 9 (Saturday) at Cine Switch Ginza and other theaters.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Directed by Ritesh Batra in His Feature Debut

In India, a lunchbox delivery system is widely used. Around lunchtime, dabbawalas (lunchbox carriers) are bustling about, delivering lunchboxes without fail. The probability of a mistaken delivery is an astonishingly rare one in six million. "The Lunchbox" depicts a lonely man and woman who meet through such a chance delivery error.

Made on a modest budget, the film has been hailed as rewriting the history of Indian cinema, winning the Audience Award at the Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival last year. Furthermore, it set the biggest box office record for a Bollywood film in Europe and soared to the top of foreign language film box office performance in the US this year.

The director and screenwriter of this talked-about film is Ritesh Batra, who makes his feature debut with this work. Irrfan Khan, known for "Slumdog Millionaire," plays Saajan, a widower nearing early retirement. Nimrat Kaur portrays Ila, a housewife who believes she can "win back her husband's affection through cooking" and excels at preparing meals.

Ila slips a letter into the lunchbox meant for her husband
It's lunchtime in Mumbai. The four-tiered lunchbox, prepared by housewife Ila to regain her husband's affection, is mistakenly delivered to Saajan, a widower nearing early retirement. A chance delivery error brings a man and a woman together. Ila rejoices at the empty lunchbox, while Saajan is surprised by the taste of home-cooked food.

However, her husband's reaction upon returning home is the same as usual. Suspicious, Ila slips a letter into the next day's lunchbox.

A gem of a story begins with a misdelivered lunchbox. The subtle elegance of the letters and the time lag before they are received gradually bridge the distance between Ila and Saajan, vividly intertwining their burgeoning feelings.

The Lunchbox
Nationwide release starting August 9 (Saturday) at Cine Switch Ginza and other theaters
Director & Screenplay | Ritesh Batra
Starring | Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Distribution | Longride
2013 / India, France, Germany / 105 min
http://lunchbox-movie.jp

© AKFPL, ARTE France Cinéma, ASAP Films, Dar Motion Pictures, NFDC, Rohfilm―2013