In addition to Sikhya Entertainment’s ‘Monsoon Shootout’ by Amit Kumar and ‘Bombay Talkies’ by Anurag Kashyap, Dibaker Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akthar as earlier announced to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It has now been announced that the directorial debut feature of Ritesh Batra ‘The Lunchbox’ will premiere at the Cannes Critics week section of the festival.
Produced by Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap of Sikhya Entertainment and Arun Rangachari of DAR Motion Pictures and co-produced by NFDC, ASAP Films, Roh Films and Cine Mosaic, the film stars Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nimrat Kaur amongst others.
Being his debut feature, director Ritesh Batra whose earlier short films have bagged him numerous accolades will be competing for the Camera d’or. “I am thrilled our film is in Cannes, we were just trying to tell a story as honestly as possible. I am so glad it’s universal and can speak to a global audience,” stated the director.
A film set amidst the milieu of a mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system, which connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life.
“I am over the moon with the announcement. We have Monsoon Shootout and now Lunchbox too at the festival. It is so hearting to see our hard work paying off. Both Amit Kumar and Ritesh Batra are fabulous directors and I am so happy that their films have made it,” remarked Producer and CEO, Guneet Monga of Sikhya Entertainment
This film marks the first of its kind co-production and is also the first Indo-French co-production since the signing of the Co-production treaty.
“Lunchbox marks a significant evolution in the way Indian cinema has transcended geographical boundaries to enter the International mainstream. As lead producers for the film we have collaborated with co-producers from three different continents on this project that we are confident will have both global as well as domestic appeal,” said Arun Rangachari, Chairman of Dar Motion Pictures and producer on the film.
The cast and crew along with Director Ritesh Batra and Producers Arun Rangachari, Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap are expected to be in attendance to present the film at the festival.