Monday, October 7, 2013

Lunchbox, satiates

Lunchbox serves a very different meal to film goers used to Indian masala diet. This despite the fact that this movie is like the Maanga Pachadi, a dish made with raw mango, jaggery and neem flower, that my mother makes for Tamil New Year. It has all the tastes. And just like my mom's preparation the movie is more on the sweeter side. The Pachadi is supposed to be equally sour and bitter in addition to being salty.

The main ingredients of the movie? An old widower on the verge of retirement accidentally starts receiving lunchbox from a depressed housewife and the depressed housewife is trying to gain her husband's attention by cooking delicious meals (believing the way to a man's heart is through his stomach). The lunchbox becomes medium of correspondence between the two. 

Before I go further, there are other side dishes served along. There is a young raw accountant trying to get the attention of his manager, the old widower. Then there are two old ladies stewed in pain. One turns into a sugar syrup despite her husband's condition while the other becomes dry and burnt due to her husband's state. 

So coming back, the correspondence which starts as a way of killing each other's loneliness, soon turns into love. The relationship seems like perfect mix of spices, each bringing what the other wants. Soon the practicality sets in and the old widower is unsure. 

The movie entertains in all parts. The interaction between the housewife and her helpful invisible neighbor, and the young recruit vying to get the attention of his superior adds zest. 

Like water which despite not having characteristic but important for any dish, the Mumbai dubbawallas and the local contains the plot. 

But what the dish really delivers is love. Love served to the old man, who otherwise is cold and emotionless, makes him give love back to the unknown lady, children in the neighbourhood and an inept subordinate. Love given to a depressed lady gives her hope. 

Lunchbox is a good fare. Despite being an Indian movie the spices seems to be light. 

4 comments:

Ghost_Writer said...

nice review... guess it will be a good watch.. someone told me that after they saw the movie, they felt as if the director had forgotten to actually film the last 15 mins of the movie.. was it like that?

Unknown said...

The ending was indeed a bit abrupt which was disappointing. I guess it is one of those movies where the director wants to leave the ending to your imagination instead of your decision of whether it was a good of bad one.

Sriganesh said...

Hridya, you are right.

Savitha, you answered it on my behalf. Yes, the director probably has tried not to rush us into any conclusion. Instead of creating any suspense or thrill, he has let the time float.

Whether the widower and the housewife meet or not, what I inferred is that if your heart says something listen to it. Or else it might be too late worrying about the repercussions and the society.

Also, in some ways I was also reminded of Cheeni Kum. Though both are vastly different from each other.

Ghost_Writer said...

watched the movie yesterday.... liked it.... might watch it again.... :-D