JOIN USRitesh Batra's epistolary romance 'The Lunchbox', starring Irrfan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, today bagged a nomination in the non-English best film category at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.
The film, which won widespread international acclaim, following its screening at Cannes Film Festival in 2013, is the only Indian film to be nominated at this year's ceremony.
'The Lunchbox' will be competing against Pawel Pawlikowski's Polish-Danish drama 'Ida', Russian film 'Leviathan', Brazilian-British adventure thriller 'Trash' and Belgian movie 'Two Days, One Night' in the Film Not in the English Language category at the awards.
Batra was elated with his debut film making it to the nominations list of the prestigious British awards.
"Love and congrats to the whole team, and thanks BAFTA for the nomination. So honoured to be nominated alongside my favourite films of the year," Batra tweeted.
"It is a good validation to tell Indian stories to the world, if we don't tell our own stories, no one else will," he added.
'The Lunchbox' revolves around the misplacement of a tiffin in Mumbai's efficient lunchbox delivery system. This wrong delivery of a lunchbox connects a neglected housewife (Nimrat) to an about to retire government servant (Irrfan). Nawaz plays the earnest but ignorant young replacement to Irrfan's character.
"This one's sure a Pandora's Box! A BAFTA nomination for 'The Lunchbox'!! Big love and congrats to the whole team," actress Nimrat tweeted.
"So awesome! 'The Lunchbox' nominated for BAFTA! Thank you Ritesh Batra for creating so much magic," Guneet Monga, who is one of the producers of the film, posted on Twitter.
BAFTA awards will be hosted by Stephen Fry and take place on February 8.