A tender story set in Mumbai, where a rare mix-up in the city’s lunchbox delivery system connects two strangers, The Lunchbox stars Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur in standout performances. Ila, a neglected housewife, sends a lovingly prepared lunch to her husband, only for it to reach Saajan, a lonely widower nearing retirement. Through notes exchanged in the lunchbox, they begin an emotional correspondence, sharing memories, regrets and hopes. As their bond deepens, both confront their dissatisfaction with life and contemplate new beginnings. The film won the Critics’ Week Viewers’ Choice Award, also known as the Grand Rail d’Or, at the 66th Cannes Film Festival.
Titli (2014)
A gritty drama set in the underbelly of Delhi, Titli follows the eponymous young man trapped in a violent and dysfunctional family, where the father is a petty criminal, and the older brothers are involved in crime and exploitation. Titli dreams of escaping this oppressive life and creating a new identity for himself, a chance that comes his way when he marries a woman, Neelu, hoping to use her as a means of escape. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes and was lauded for its raw narrative and sincere performances.
