The Lunchbox

by Ritesh Batra Gala Premieres

Mumbai is home to a special group of deliverymen, the ‘dabbawahllahs’. Every morning they deliver lunchboxes filled in the kitchens of housewives to the offices of their husbands, and take them back again. It is said that only one in 16 million dabbas goes astray – that one just happens to be sent by Ila, and contains a particularly tasty lunch designed to pep up her marriage. Ila’s lunchbox lands on the table of Saajan. On the verge of retiring from his job as an accountant, this grumpy old widower is bowled over by the wonderful flavour of his usually dank meal. When Ila discovers that her dabba has reached the wrong person, she puts a note in the next one. And so begins an exchange of letters that soon becomes the most anticipated highlight of their day...