The Lunchbox Movie Essay

Before UberEats and Postmates were established in America, a simpler version known as the dabbawala system, was established in India long before modern technology. Throughout the rom-com film, The Lunchbox, the audience sees how the system works, its impact on the economy, and the traditional everyday lifestyles in Mumbai. Although it is important to value traditional culture, the film depicts ways not only characters are trying to break away from tradition, but the city of Mumbai itself through modernization. As stated in the prompt, many see this film as a parable for India and its traditional culture, but I see it as a parable showing India at a different angle. From viewing this film, I can conclude how the city of Mumbai and its people are trying to escape traditionalism, the economic impact

Sadly, in the middle of the film the plot thickens, and it is informed Ila’s husband is having an affair. With American culture, there is a need to run and tell everyone close to us, but Ila was not doing this. I assume in Indian culture infidelity is kept quiet and brushed off, taking into consideration Ila did not speak of it to her close relatives like her mother or aunt but by her writing to Saajan about it, it is perceived she is breaking away from the traditional aspects of Indian marriage. Also seen in the film, Shaikh explains to Saajan how he technically was not married to his girlfriend, after he told them they were, and how she ran away from home until her father would give his blessing for them to be married. This example shows another way of fleeing from tradition by her running away and living life like they were married. Although the dabbawala system is a part of Indian culture and tradition, the delivery system itself is reasonably modern which is how the city itself is slowly moving away from