On 'The Lunchbox'



What is the best way to spend time when you want to get entertained when you want your heart and also mind to get involved(which goes without saying, most entertainment is with no mind... matter rules mind)? I'd say, go with your loved one(s) to watch a subtle romantic movie, recently released, called "The Lunchbox"! 

I cannot stop being gaga over Good Romantic Movies, ever. Some of the great English Romantic movies that I vouch for are:
  • Casablanca
  • Gone with the Wind
  • You've got mail...
  •  One fine day
  • Pretty Woman
... and so many...

The one from Hindi movies' lot, Bollywood actually rides on numero-uno concept of Love, Romance etc. Dream merchants like Yash Chopra have always snow-ladden as a backdrop of the lead pair. Personally, I never liked this personification or caricaturization of 'Love', though as glamor it is ultimate. I detest such concepts, since it takes us away from reality. That does not mean, in real life there is no Love/Romance. I feel, urban denizens have their style of romance as compared to not-so-urbaners. Which brings me to this movie, 'The Lunchbox'. It is about Love that could have happened in that way... via a mistaken delivery of the Lunchbox.

Obviously, I will not tell the story, because that tears the writer's & director's efforts, but what I would definitely like to comment is, R. Batra has it in him what Satyajit Ray or Meera Nair has to make cinema as fine art. On the onset, the movie sets us into Mumbai's middle class life-style of Local Trains and commuting to work like a never ending circular path. The lead characters set a decibel of 'aam-aadmi ka jeevan'! 

Female lead is so real from her demeanor to her camera presence, that you would hardly miss her, since she shows you your neighbor or you yourself(if you are a woman). Nimrat Kaur can very well replace our thirst for yesteryear cinema's best known actress, Ms. Smita Patil. Nimrat is glamorous, but she can comfortable induce herself with any character that script needs. The more I saw her, the more I felt like making a movie just for her (though I have no talent for this art). A housewife's monotonous life is spiced up in an unlikely way through a most unimagined medium. Batra has brought that theme of the story right through Nimrat. Hats Off!

 Male lead, Irrfan, is not only the icing or cake, but even the gift wrap of the cake. If it wouldn't have been Irrfan, the only person could have possible done justice in the same level would be Nasseruddin Shah. But the character needed Irrfan and Irrfan it is. Irrfan has his bulging eyeballs doing 90% of his acting. He was a gifted actor when we first saw him in Zee TV in the fag end of 80s, 'Banegi Apni Baat'! But, Irrfan still gives judgemental lots a tough choice to find nitpicking of his acting. I feel, Irrfan is one of those actors, who can perform his best always, even with the worst directors, but R. Batra is best in bringing the best out of him. 

Last but not the least, comes Nawaz. This man is common man's hero like Amol Palekar. I admire him for his expressions and voice rhythm that glues with the character. Being a NSD graduate does not guarantees this. Great Actors are never made, they are born. Nawaz adds as a third wheel, but somewhere he drives the movie like a steering-wheel. Though not part of the story, but his acting abilities makes us feel, 'well, he is apt in the story!'

The movie has a blend of a Good Story convoluted into Great Story, which as a Story Teller, Batra has done the best job. It is a definitely an Oscar Candidate, but then FII, seldom has a taste for Master Pieces(which is a different political drudgery, I seldom to put here)!

 'The Lunchbox', in short puts itself into the list of masterpieces of Romances such as:
  • Chitchor
  • Raincoat
  • Black
  • Barfi
... 

I can't wait to see it a few more times...

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