The Lunchbox | Buzz That Works | The Critique

It’s a miracle how The Lunchbox works. It’s definitely a good film. Overhyped? Yes, but still a brilliant film. It grows on viewer like Shawshank Redemption where story allows viewer grab protagonist’s shoes and walk in them. The little frustrated or bored or simply tired person in you make you feel The Lunchbox as a little story of your own. That’s the USP of this film and Ritesh Batra has nailed it right.

The Lunchbox is a four pronged story. Sajan played by Irrfan, Ila played by Nimrat, Sheikh played by Nawaz and the unifier – a misplaced Lunchbox. A bored and frustrated housewife Ila connects to a lonely retiring Sajan who is unable to come to terms with his own life. They find comfort in letters. Sajan is also having a problem in giving work handover to Sheikh who has overcame a lot in his life. His strife and determination surprises and impresses Sajan. Lunchbox, a motif in true sense provides them a platform to connect and provides audience a sneak peek into hustle of the metro.

Film is not without faults. Unexplored subplots and too much focus on lunchbox without driving to any point are two major deterrents. Subtle nuances are good. Contrast between calm lives of people and chaos of Mumbai brings in the element of zing to the story. Performances are good. Nawaz excels, Irrfan is quintessential and Nimrat impresses. Amateurs acts amateurish.

Technically – cinematography and music – film excels. Bringing in seasoned Max Ritcher works. Writing leaves much to aspire for. Without actors of such caliber, film would have failed miserably. Direction is decent. Film stands good for the hype it generated. Success of this film would motivate indie to go that extra mile. It means a lot. Really.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

  

Year Of Nawaz | Editor's Pen

Even after watching movies like Sarfarosh, Black Friday, Manorama Six Feet Under, Munnabhai MBBS, Ek Challis Ki Last Local and Firaaq, I hardly had an impression of the timid looking in New York who breaks down when Katrina is treated badly by cops. In New York he took me by surprise. When he expresses his sorrow to Katrina while she is been ‘body-searched’ in a shameful manner, it strikes you hard. In New York, Irrfan was the second best actor followed by Neil, Katrina and John. That was 2009.

 

Cut to: 2012. This year is Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s year. Though he was in a blink-and-miss role in Paan Singh Tomar, he left a statement. Kahaani was his roar. Without menacing mannerisms, Kahaani would have been a bland affair. In absence of the main villain, though on the right side, he acted as a true nemesis for a woman who is challenging the system. If Kahaani was the beginning, a lot more followed with Gangs Of Wasseypur 1 and 2. His portrayal of weed-smoker Bollywood-obsessed gangster gave the perfect Tarantino feel to the narrative. Though I have second thought on how his character was conceived, his performance leaves no smudge marks. Apart from widely appreciated Miss Lovely and Chittagong, struck-in-godown Shoebite and promising Dekh Indian Circus, Nawaz is also playing a role in perhaps one of the most awaited movie of 2012 – Talaash. Meanwhile another movie of his - Patang is busy listening reviews across the globe in film fests.

 

Filmography of Nawazuddin cements the age-old belief that hard work pays, you just need to push the envelope.

 

Love

Sujoy Ghosh