The Lunchbox Directed by Ritesh Batra. India 2013. 104 min. (PG) With Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Irrfan Khan, who died last month age 53, was that rare Bollywood star also to receive international acclaim, if mainly through films by Western directors, such as Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and The Amazing Spider-Man. Batra’s The Lunchbox is that other rarity: an Indian film which reached a worldwide audience. The award-winning short filmmaker shot his first full-length feature on location in bustling Mumbai, with a naturalism that distinguishes itself from both Hollywood’s romantic fantasies and Indian musical extravaganzas. Khan plays Mr Fernandez, a world-weary, widowed office worker facing a lonely retirement. Across the city lives Ila, an emotionally starved young housewife. The thread that joins them is spun by Mumbai’s legendary dabbawala lunchbox delivery network. The object of a study by Harvard Business School, it is a logistical wonder that never gets it wrong – until it does. Will they, won’t they? Added to the wryly wistful mix is Fernandez’ designated job replacement. Siddiqui plays the young man with hapless bravura, the perfect foil for Khan’s reticence, yet with the dignity and desperation of one for whom everything is at stake. Indeed, behind the light comedy lurks the pervasive fear of ending up alone in the teeming streets. As one character remarks: “The wrong train can get you to the right station.” What station is that? It’s a question open for debate. “a delectable take on the hunger for connection” Kenneth Turan, LA Times Cannes: ‘Grand Rail d’Or’ Ritesh Batra; Asian Film Awards: ‘Best Actor’ Irrfan Khan _______________________________________________________________________________________ Do join us at 9:45 pm on Tuesday 19 May for a post-film discussion: - on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WimbledonFilmClub/ (write & read comments under the new post pinned at the top of the page) - on our Google Group Forum at https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!forum/wimbledon-film-club (please email in advance if you are not yet a member of the google forum and would like to join) or email your comments to: [email protected] .