Dabba (The Lunchbox)

"I'm going with five out of five for The Lunchbox. The greatest love stories are the ones that make you root for the protagonists to come together, despite their destinies. This film illustrates how love transforms the unlikeliest of people; it breaks down Saajan's walls and gives Ila the courage to fly. Treat yourself to The Lunchbox – it'll leave you with a craving to seek your own little happiness. Best film I've seen in a long time."

"It is a film of multiple pleasures -- small ones and overwhelming ones and exquisitely crafted ones -- layered one on top of the other, with something for everyone, and so, so much for the cinematic glutton. Like the dabbawalas he loves, this director delivers."

"What stays in the mind at the end of 'The Lunchbox' is pretty much what stays in mind at the end of a memorable set by jazzmen – not their lapses but the heights they scale. Bottomline: Bon appetit! Miss this sumptuous movie, at your own peril."

"The Lunchbox is poignant and powerful. It will make you laugh and cry. And it will also make you hungry – I was dying to eat paneer kofta and bhindi when it finished. I'm going with four stars and absolutely insisting that you see it."

"If it hadn't been for the occasional flatness, and a couple of predictable notes, there would have been no flaws in this dabba. I also found Ila's mother's (Lillete Dubey) segment, included solely to underline another kind of vacantness, a little forced. But these are tiny niggles in this film that gets the rest of it so right. Batra's characters are a delight. They may be of Mumbai, infused with intense desi flavours, but can inhabit any part of the world. You want to take them home, sit them down at your table, and savour them, one mouthful at a time."

"Could a simple lunchbox and its contents change lives? One of the best films to come out of India in a long time, director Ritesh Batra answers the question in his little masterpiece, The Lunchbox."

"Virtually every scene in the film offers more than just what is shown or said. And it is not a serious film all the way, take the dabbawallah scene where he argues with the Ila that even Harvard university came to see them and so did English royalty! Do what you please but don't miss The Lunchbox."

"A highly recommended movie, that leaves you with a running film reel in your head, and a need to have have delicious food!"

"Ritesh Batra's film is a winner all the way, an exceptional love story, where two individuals romance each other, much like the director romances Mumbai. A story like no other that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you misty-eyed. A story that is full of hope and is heart wrenching at the same time. A story that makes you want to break into spontaneous applause because it is incredible in so many ways."

"The Lunchbox is one of those films that will mesmerize you with dripping simplicity. Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur build their character intimately without meeting each other for once all through the film. Normally such stories lose their steam soon enough, but Batra's expertise handles the film with its ingrained beauty of an unlikely love story. It is such a potent and effective film that I can't really settle for anything less than 4.5/5. It is only sometimes that one encounters an unblemished film, this ranks among those few for me!"

"The Lunchbox is an exceptional film, a rare gem that arrives only once in a few years. Miss it only if you are allergic to all things awesome."

"Its finesse qualifies this charmer as India's potential entry to the Oscars, The Lunchbox an unusual banquet, raising a bitter-sweet toast to life."

"THE LUNCHBOX is a standout film, a sumptuous treat that's sure to be relished by connoisseurs of cinema. A film with a big heart, it makes you realize that you can unearth contentment and pleasure even if you board the wrong train. Easily one of the finest films to come out of India."

"This picture primes you up for the end, slowly taking control of your emotions when you're willing to go either way so far as this film's conclusion is concerned."

"The fact that it has garnered so much acclaim even before its release in India is something no one can ignore. This one may not please those looking for a masala flick, but is more than your money's worth."

"Gorge into it and savour its lingering aftertaste. The Lunchbox holds riches that aren't likely to be forgotten in a hurry."

"A thoughtful, elegant, bittersweet ode to love that you can't miss!"

"The Lunchbox is a delightfully delicious film. It will be simply loved by the classes and will score in the multiplexes of the big cities. The start in several centres may be slow but collections will pick up in the big cities due to positive mouth publicity. It will win a lot of accolades and awards too."

"Dear reader, this is a delicious, beautiful little film. Just don't watch it on an empty stomach."

"It's the most optimistic film of the year. There are plenty of moments to treasure in The Lunchbox, and they're all small and delicately crafted. Those looking for romance will swoon with delight as they discover two lonely people can find a way to make things work."

"While being an immensely enjoyable and competent film, the universality of The Lunchbox tends to exclude its setting's all-important provinciality."