Serendipity befalls two unhappy people in Ritesh Batra’s charming musical version of his 2013 lauded film, “The Lunchbox,” in Berkeley Rep’s gorgeous world premiere production. This utterly engaging, heartfelt play captures the loneliness that only a big city like Bombay (now Mumbai) can create. But maybe there is a chance of happiness for the miserably married young Ila and the 50-ish widower Fernandes.
After all, they meet cute. The metal cylindrical lunchbox (called a “tiffin”) that Ila (fabulous Kuhoo Verma) packs for her uncaring, emotionally absent husband Rajeev (Shiv Nadkarni), somehow winds up being delivered to the near-retirement, dejected Fernandes (outstanding Manu Narayan). Soon, the two are exchanging short, anonymous notes through the boxes, which begin to turn into deeper confidences. Perhaps it is only the impossibility of their nameless correspondence that allows them to recognize their isolation and open their hearts to each other. Fernandes poignantly says, “I think we forget things if we have no one to tell them to.”
But let’s not overlook that “The Lunchbox” is a full-fledged, genuine musical. Its original, pleasing, Indian-lilted music (by the Lazours, music direction of Sheela Ramesh) and singing lift the mood and add to the story’s depth and emotion. Kuhoo Verma has a beautiful voice that transports the audience.
The lavish production, under the skillful direction of Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin (“Hadestown,” “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”), is Broadway-ready. The set (Mimi Lien) is a multi-tiered set of undistinguished apartments with balconies that reach to the top of the stage.
And there are important secondary stories that keep our interest as well. Ila’s upstairs auntie (Anisha Nagarajan) has been caring for her comatose husband at home for 15 years. The over-enthusiastic new guy at Fernandes’ office, Shaik (Aathaven Tharmarajah), befriends Fernandes despite all Fernandes’ instincts.
But Bombay itself is also a star of “The Lunchbox,” being recreated on stage from the opening minutes with complex sound effects transporting us to noisy, hectic Bombay. Reshma Gajjar’s nimble, humorous choreography and Arjun Bhasin’s elaborate costumes complete the look and feel of Bombay.
I highly recommend “The Lunchbox” — it’s a captivating experience. The running time is approximately one hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission.
By Emily S. Mendel
© Emily S. Mendel 2026 All Rights Reserved emilymendel@gmail.com
