New Delhi: Director Ritesh Batra has made heads turn with his debut film 'The Lunchbox' featuring Irrfan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He talks about the subtleties and careful planning involved in filmmaking in a candid chat.
The idea
I was working on a documentary in 2007 on the dabbawallahs and was trying to find a personal story. I spent some time with them and became friends with them during the process, and then the idea of a housewife who tries something new everyday struck me.
Convincing Irrfan
You see, it wasn't really about an old man but it's about a man who feels old. So, it didn't take a lot of convincing on my part but of course, we talked a lot about the character.
Bringing Irrfan and Nawazuddin together
Well, it was not really tough. They both read the script and liked it and they came on board after meeting me. Many people think that it might have been a difficult task but it was a sort of anti-climax.
Nimrat Kaur
We not only needed someone who is a great actor but we also needed someone who could put time in the preparation, and from our first meeting it seemed she is the person who would do the role. We had a lot of meetings and auditions over a period of six months. Also, her role in 'Peddlers' helped in getting to the right point.
Mumbai as a character
You can't make a tentative decision because filmmaking is an expensive thing, and for a responsible person every decision is a deliberate decision. Mumbai is the fabric of the story and this city has some specialities which had to be shown in the film. I always knew that if I cast the right person for aunty's role I wouldn't have to show her.
You see, the whole idea of setting the story in a particular place is taken because you want to make the story specific and local, and then only it will become universal. Mumbai is central to 'The Lunchbox' and Nawaz in a way represents the future.
Rave reviews and Oscar
You know, this whole Oscar thing started from Toronto where 'The Lunchbox' was screened. It was a very democratic kind of festival and there 'The Lunchbox' was screened seven times, every day they would screen the film and we had to go and introduce it. And, then foreign publications started to report that it is a strong contender for foreign film Oscar. New York Times wrote the same thing, Salman Rushdie tweeted and the buzz started over there.
The last minute anxiety
More than anxiety, it's excitement. I am planning to watch it with everyone where they wouldn't recognise me.
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