The Lunchbox

Awards

• No award information available.

Trivia

Album

• This was Ritesh Batra's directorial debut. He got the idea for the film while researching the dabbawalas of Mumbai for a documentary. The film was also Nimrat Kaur's first in a lead role. She had appeared in a minor role previously in the film "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" (2012).[1]
• While this film did not have any songs, it featured "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai" from the film "Saajan" (1991) in the background score. The song was used in the film after Nimrat Kaur's character finds out the name of Irrfan Khan's character - Saajan Fernandes.[2]
• The film was shown in various international film festivals before its theatrical release in India. It was appreciated by critics as well as audiences. The film was expected to be India's official nomination for the Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Film Category. However, in a surprising move, the Film Federation of India (FFI) nominated the Gujarati film "The Good Road" (2013) instead. This decision was widely debated and criticised. "The Good Road" (2013) could not make it to the Oscar shortlist in the Best Foreign Film Category.[3][4]

1. ^ Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012)
2. ^ Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai (Saajan, 1991)
3. ^ The Lunchbox vs The Good Road: India's Oscars desperation
4. ^ India's 'The Good Road' out of Oscar race