In our recent Creative Soul Club discussion, we dove into The Lunchbox, Ritesh Batra’s delicately woven story of connection, loneliness, and old-school romance. Through Saajan and Ila, played by the talented Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, we explored how chance encounters can profoundly impact our lives.
Here’s a look at the themes that resonated most with our Creative Soul Club members.
1. The beauty and complexity of handwritten letters
The exchange of letters between Ila and Saajan struck a chord, especially in today’s digital age. We felt that these beautiful notes held a sense of promise, a kind of old-school romance that feels lost in a world dominated by social media. Some of our members admitted they’d feel both curiosity and caution if they received a similar letter, while some thought the idea might even prompt a modern-day FIR!
This conversation highlighted a common sentiment: many of us crave deeper, more personal connections, even as we feel wary of unfamiliar ways of connecting in a world that’s changed drastically from the one depicted in The Lunchbox.
2. Food as a language of love and memory
Food isn’t just sustenance in The Lunchbox; it becomes a way for characters to communicate emotions and build connections. The group resonated deeply with this theme. Some remembered their mother’s advice about treating cooking as an act of love rather than a chore, suggesting that our emotions truly get infused into the food we make. For others, Ila’s cooking was not only a gesture of care but also a reminder of how easily the effort we put into relationships is taken for granted, a stark contrast between Ila’s husband, who ignored her meals, and Saajan, who cherished them.
A member beautifully recalled how food builds memories, reminding her of school friends and her grandmother’s cooking. For some, receiving appreciation for their food boosted their self-esteem, just as it did for Ila, who began to see herself differently once her culinary skills were valued.
3. Small mistakes leading to big connections
The accidental delivery of Ila’s lunchbox to Saajan initiated a unique bond, an element that opened up stories of serendipitous moments in our group. A Creative Soul Club member shared a personal experience of meeting a friend by chance at a festival, an encounter that grew into a meaningful friendship and eventually led her to join Blogchatter! Another also found that some of her best creative moments arose from unplanned opportunities, showing how mistakes and random encounters often lead to transformative connections.
4. Loneliness and longing in a crowd
Loneliness runs like a quiet undercurrent through The Lunchbox. We reflected on the poignancy of Saajan’s solitary evenings at home, where his subtle yearning for companionship was unmistakable. Similarly, Ila’s isolation was depicted through her one-sided conversations with a neighbour we never see. For a member who moved to Mumbai alone at 18, the film’s depiction of solitude felt especially relatable, capturing the feeling of being alone amidst a crowd.
We observed that The Lunchbox sheds light on how loneliness cuts across all walks of life and doesn’t discriminate by gender or circumstance. Every character in the film is touched by loneliness, even those surrounded by people. The film’s portrayal of how silence and solitude connect these characters led our group to reflect on how communication, or the lack thereof, often shapes our lives.
5. The Lunchbox has an ending full of possibilities
The film’s open-ended conclusion generated a lot of discussion. Some of us love these kind of endings that leave room for interpretation, while others felt that Saajan and Ila’s story didn’t need a happy ending; it made sense for the film to leave things unresolved.
The movie realistically portrays relationships. Saajan and Ila’s connection didn’t have to be romantic to be meaningful.
Some relationships simply help us grow, even if they don’t last forever. Their connection went beyond physical attraction or traditional partnership, creating a space where both characters felt heard and understood.
The Lunchbox resonated with us as a reminder that small gestures, like handwritten notes or a lovingly prepared meal, can have a powerful impact, even in an era dominated by instant messaging and busy schedules. Saajan and Ila’s story left us with the poignant message that sometimes, a simple, sincere connection is enough to make a difference, and maybe that’s all it’s meant to be.
