An Evening with Ritesh Batra + The Lunchbox
Join Ritesh Batra for an intimate conversation celebrating his acclaimed debut, The Lunchbox, in anticipation of the musical stage adaptation of this beloved film at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in May.
Highlights
Ritesh Batra
Join Ritesh Batra for an intimate conversation celebrating his acclaimed debut, The Lunchbox, in anticipation of the musical stage adaptation of this beloved film at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in May.
The Lunchbox
A mistaken lunchbox delivery through the famed dabbawala network sparks an unexpected connection between a lonely office worker and a thoughtful homemaker in Mumbai.
Description
Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox unfolds as a quietly radiant tale of connection amid the everyday bustle of Mumbai. Ila (Nimrat Kaur) prepares daily meals for her husband, but a mistaken delivery through the city’s famed dabbawala network sends her lunches to Saajan (Irrfan Khan), a solitary office worker nearing retirement. Over time, the pair build an unexpected bond through notes tucked inside the lunchboxes, sharing thoughts and small confidences that bridge their separate lives. Batra’s debut feature offers a luminous observation of loneliness and intimacy, capturing city rhythms with warmth, humor, and humanity. Anchored by the magnetic performances of Kaur and Khan, the drama transforms an ordinary culinary mishap into a moving story of hope and the quiet power of human connection. —Jessie Fairbanks
Trailer
Biographies
Ritesh Batra is a writer/director based in Mumbai and New York. His first feature, The Lunchbox (2013), earned accolades worldwide, and the Cannes Film Festival awarded Batra the Grand Golden Rail. Since then, he’s made The Sense of an Ending (2017), Our Souls at Night (2017), and Photograph (Festival 2019).
