Film Review: The Lunchbox

(27 Sep 2013)

There is something about Ritesh Batra’s directorial venture, ‘The Lunchbox’, that goes beyond all the Oscar-buzz it created. That perhaps is best explained by the film’s simplicity; an artful trait often forgotten by most films.

The film revolves around the two protagonists: a dutiful housewife who feels repeatedly ignored by her husband, and a widower on the verge of his retirement from a government firm. There is a sense of unusual affection that the two gradually develops for each other through a series of letters exchanged in the lunch box that Ila – played by the classy Nimrat Kaur – used to send to her husband. Thanks to the ‘dabba-walas’, the lunch box ended up getting wrongly delivered every day to Saajan, exceptionally screened by Irrfan Khan. This aged character that Irrfan does absolute justice to, is probably one of his best performances till date. Nimrat too pulls out a startling exhibition of her talent.

The story is so honestly written, it does not need to try to be accepted as possible. The upstairs neighbor who Ila calls ‘aunty’ never appears on screen, yet casts a gripping spell with the spontaneity of emotions and well-timed laughter. Between Irrfan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui – who is poised to replace Saajan after his retirement – there are many moments full of human sentiments as well as rich humor.

The narration of Saajan’s observation of the evolution of the affection for Ila is like a journey one would easily sail along. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Siddiqui introduces Saajan to his ladylove. Saajan wants to soak in the youthful fantasy of a female companion, as he says, “My wife is no more; but I have a girlfriend”.

It is for the audience to discover what happens to what some would call an ‘affair’ between perhaps an apple and an orange. What is assured of however is that you will experience a sequence of events unfolding in front of yourself as if reality was on play. Kudos to Ritesh Batra for his consistent mastery through the length of the film. He would have been extremely proud to represent India at the Oscars, but then here is a delicious classic that the director has served us so well, we could do without that trophy!

I am going with 4.5 out of 5 for this prosaic poem. Do watch The Lunchbox if you feel hungry for some truly good cinematic work. 

Film Review: Satyagraha

That Prakash Jha has drawn real-life inspiration from the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption crusade is pretty obvious from his protagonists in the film Satyagraha. A retired school principal played by the classy Amitabh Bachchan – revered for his ideological high ground – wages a war against the systematic corruption practiced by the political and bureaucratic class of Ambikapur district. The ‘revolution’ has its birth rooted in a slap that the ex-principal awards the District Collector with.

What follows is a sequence of first non-violent and then violent protests, led by a once-corrupt corporate guru, Manav Raghavendra, exceptionally essayed by Ajay Devgn, who proves once again why he is a metal different from the fleet of mere stars and actors of Bollywood.

Arjun Rampal plays a local ‘dada’ who too joins the movement, along with a news reporter, Yasmin, portrayed by Kareena Kapoor. Arjun’s character is like a cursed spirit wandering aimlessly in search of some direction by others, and needless to say he does what he does best – anything but act! The romantic chemistry between Ajay and Kareena evaporates much before it dissolves.

Moments worth remembering in the film are far too less to intrigue your senses. I personally liked two mourning scenes, one when Ajay breaks down in the corner of a terrace remembering his dear friend, and the other when Amitabh tries to ‘feel’ his departed son on the highway in wee hours.

This is a casually written story and an ill-conceptualised script. What is sad is in a film of this serious genre, you are more likely to remember Manoj Bajpai – who plays a corrupt minister – for his semi-comical dialogues.

I am going with two out of five for Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha. The director sure needs to go back to the drawing board, do some genuine soul-searching before he attempts to tell us his next contemporary story, and expects us to believe in that!

(6 Sep 2013)