The Lunchbox receives appreciation because of its honesty towards India, says director Ritesh Batra

The Lunchbox, an epistolary love story directed by debutant Ritesh Batra, received wide appreciation at several international festivals including the most prestigious ones like Toronto and Cannes. Now the filmmaker is looking forward to the film’s Indian release on September 20. Batra shares his feeling that the movie has been loved by the worldwide audience because of its India-specific content.

StarringIrrfanKhan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles, The Lunchbox, set in Mumbai, revolves around a house wife and an office worker who is going to retire soon. They begin to reach out to each other via letters which are sent through the lunchbox. Batra, who is really hopeful about the film’s potential in the Indian market, told reporters, “The film has been liked so much because it is very local and India-specific and honest to the details about India. It’s so local that’s why it’s universal.” The Lunchbox is being presented by Karan Johar and produced by Anurag Kashyap and Guneet Monga along with many others. Batra told about his choice of Mumbai as the location for his film, “I grew up there. If Mumbai is associated with me as a filmmaker, it would just be my pleasure and honour... I love the city. It’s my home. When it’s part of your home, you like the best.” Not only The Lunchbox, his next film Photograph is being shot in different parts of Mumbai.