The lunchbox. Signifies food. With food is associated life
and joy. All things positive. At the least, sustenance. This movie has so many
symbolisms in it. It’s a beautiful movie that leaves you with a smile. Its poignance
is amazing. Quite rare for the brash overly glamourous Bollywood cinema which
is thriving more on on-your-face emotions.
There is subtlety and love and romance and betrayal and
death and the past and even the future somewhat told altogether at the same
time. Old reminiscences and how they rejuvenate our present lives, old
betrayals and how they hurt us…yet its not time, but our own will power that
makes us move on. Time does not heal things. It's us.
A simple mistake by the world famous dabbawallahs leads to a
unique relationship between a crotchety old man and a lonely housewife who
finds that her marriage is going to the pits as she has a cheating husband. The
old man is a lonely widower who is a month away from retirement. The lonely
housewife is on the verge of suicide. Both of them save each other like
strangers often tend to do once you confide in them. He appreciates her food
and she appreciates the care he showers on her. They have never met each other.
She satisfies his need for good food. He satisfies her craving for attention
and gives a few minutes of his time to her. They never meet. In the era of
emails, WhatsApp and whatnot, they communicate through little pieces of paper
which are wrapped in fragrant chappatis. Soon she awaits the return of her
empty dabba and the reply he sends and he awaits for her delicious, spicy food
and mundane recollections of her mind, her life and her thoughts. The empty
dabba and pacifying words soothe her sad, comfortless life. She has an ailing
father and a tired mother. A young daughter and a cheating husband. He has
memories of his dead wife, noisy children of the neighbourhood and an empty house
where he watches television and smokes.
These 2 very disparate characters blend their lives and come
together through little pieces of paper that convey hope and despair; memories
and advice; friendship and care. Mostly friendship and care. 2 people who end
up getting to know each other. Through the lunchbox full of food, and little pieces of paper.
The way to the heart is indeed through the lunchbox.
