Director: Ritesh Batra
Writer: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Length: 104 min
Strength: Story, narration and casting
Weakness: Music
Showbiz Rating: 4 out of 5

Plot: Set in Mumbai, Saajan (Irfan Khan) is a widower and works as an accountant; Ila (Nimrat Kaur) is an overlooked housewife. She devises a plan to win back the affection of her husband through food. She sends lunch for her husband through the dabbawalla's services but as fate would have it the meal lands on the desk of Saajan. Over an apology Saajan and Ila start passing letters within the dabbas (lunch box).
Review: First of all a word of advice, don't watch this movie on an empty belly. The dishes cooked by Ila are mouthwatering and had me running for munchies.
The setting of the movie feels more in the 80's than the 21st century, with modern day technology and communication advancement it was refreshing and nostalgic to witness the letters being exchanged in dabbas and how it became the premises of a relationship.
The debutant Director Ritesh Batra had no ounce of nervousness; his narration was like a seasoned professional. Ritesh's best suit was his portrayal of subtle emotions and the intricate dynamics between the three lead characters.
Irfan was once again flawless; his ability to convey emotions without any words and dialogues were truly mesmerizing. Also his young associate in the movie Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) was brilliant; he was energetic on screen and his comedic timing never missed a beat. Nimrat the hapless housewife had the right blend of spices which tied the whole movie together.
It's a must watch for all hard core cine-lovers. The performance of Irfan, Nawazuddin and Nimrat are awe-inspiring. Ritesh is a true find for Indian cinema and the realms of modern day Indian cinema are in good hands.

Review by Adnan Ahmed