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Kuhoo Verma and Manu Narayan in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne

The Lunchbox

Sun, May 17, 2026 - Sun, Jul 12, 2026

Book and co-lyrics by Ritesh Batra
Music and co-lyrics by the Lazours
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
Choreography by Reshma Gajjar
Music supervision by Nathan Koci
World premiere
Roda Theatre

Rediscover the beauty of human connection in The Lunchbox — a new musical adaptation of Ritesh Batra’s internationally acclaimed film filled with heart, humor, and hope. In bustling Mumbai, a lunchbox delivery meant for one man lands in the hands of another, sparking an unlikely bond between a young wife longing to be seen and a widower nearing retirement. As notes pass back and forth with each meal, their words blossom into a romance that might save them both. Directed by Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown) and featuring performances from Manu Narayan (Broadway’s Bombay Dreams, Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbors) and Kuhoo Verma (Berkeley Rep’s Monsoon Wedding and Octet, Off-Broadway’s Heathers: The Musical), The Lunchbox is a tale of love, yearning, and new beginnings — one that will leave you believing in the bravery of opening your heart to the unexpected.

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“A world-premiere musical that feels, from its music to its performances to its production, like it entered the world fully formed and glorious.”
Theater Dogs
“Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s world-premiere adaptation of Ritesh Batra’s film offers plenty of moments of transcendence…a musical equivalent of a starburst.”
San Francisco Chronicle
“Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s staggering world premiere musical.”
Bay Area News Group
“‘The Lunchbox’ is a must-see of a new musical that already has the look, sound, and feel of a future Broadway hit.”
Theatre Eddys
“Sparkles with charm, beautifully touching on the need for human connections.”
BroadwayWorld
“The charm of Berkeley Rep’s world premiere of ‘The Lunchbox’ can’t be overstated.”
Local News Matters
“A warm and affirming world premiere theatrical musical.”
Cordell Reports
“The lavish production, under the skillful direction of Tony Award-winner Rachel Chavkin, is Broadway-ready.”
CultureVulture
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(l to r) Yash Ramanujam, Kinshuk Sen, Benjamin Mathew, Savidu Geevaratne, and Vishal Vaidya in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Anisha Nagarajan in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Benjamin Mathew and Yash Ramanujam in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Benjamin Mathew, Savidu Geevaratne, and Vishal Vaidya in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Manu Narayan and Savidu Geevaratne in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Manu Narayan in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Vishal Vaidya, Kinshuk Sen, Manu Narayan, Vaibu Mohan, and Savidu Geevaratne in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma and Shiv Nadkarni in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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The cast of The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Caryna Desai Shah and Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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The cast of The Lunchbox perform in a dream sequence. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Yash Ramanujam, Vaibu Mohan, Manu Narayan, and Kinshuk Sen in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Aathaven Tharmarajah and Manu Narayan in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma and Kinshuk Sen in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Anisha Nagarajan, Kuhoo Verma, and Caryna Desai Shah in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma and Manu Narayan in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma and Caryna Desai Shah in The Lunchbox. (background, l to r) Savidu Geevaratne and Kinshuk Sen. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Kuhoo Verma in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Production information

  • Runtime: One hour and 45 minutes, no intermission
  • Age recommendation: Suitable for ages 12 and up
  • Stage effects advisory: Use of theatrical haze and a lighting effect that may create flashing or pulsing lights in the front rows
  • Content advisory: Contains mature themes, including references to suicide

Who’s who

Cast

(in order of appearance)

Yash Ramanujam* | Chorus, Dabbawallah
Vishal Vaidya* | Chorus, Office Boss/Cafe Owner
Kinshuk Sen* | Chorus, Waiter
Savidu Geevaratne* | Chorus, Office Worker/Cook
Shiv Nadkarni* | Chorus, Rajeev, Dance Captain
Benjamin Mathew* | Chorus, Cook
Vaibu Mohan | Chorus, Mehrunissa
Sushma Saha | Chorus
Kuhoo Verma* | Ila
Shaarada Karthik, Caryna Desai Shah | Yashvi
Anisha Nagarajan* | Mrs. Deshpande
Manu Narayan* | Fernandes
Aathaven Tharmarajah* | Shaikh
Hashini Amarasinghe | Understudy Ila, Swing
Savidu Geevaratne* | Understudy Shaikh
Akshara Gunda | Swing, Dance Captain
Nasir Ali Panjwani* | Swing
Sushma Saha | Understudy Mrs. Deshpande
Vishal Vaidya* | Understudy Fernandes
Levin Valayil* | Swing

 

Band

Sheela Ramesh | Music Director, Conductor, Keys
Sascha Jacobsen | Bass
Eric Kang | Associate Music Director, Cello, Guitar
Shota Otaguro | Mallets, Drum Set, Percussion
Charith Premawardhana | Viola
Rohan Krishnamurthy | Mridangam, Tabla, Dhol, Additional Indian Percussion
Arun Ramamurthy | Violin 1
Sahana Shravan | Violin 2

 

Creative team

Ritesh Batra | Book and Co-Lyrics
The Lazours | Music and Co-Lyrics
Rachel Chavkin | Director
Reshma Gajjar | Choreographer
Nathan Koci | Music Supervisor, Co-Orchestrations
Mimi Lien | Scenic Design
Arjun Bhasin | Costume Design
Bradley King | Lighting Design
Justin Stasiw | Sound Design
Charles G. LaPointe | Wigs and Hair Design
Daniel Lazour | Co-Orchestrations
Rohan Krishnamurthy | Co-Orchestrations
Arun Ramamurthy | Co-Orchestrations
Sheela Ramesh | Music Director
The Telsey Office, Kristian Charbonier, CSA, Adam Caldwell, CSA, Keertana Sastry, Priya Ghosh | Casting
Mahira Kakkar | Dialect Coach
Becky Fleming* | Production Stage Manager
Shana Ferguson* | Stage Manager
Kathleen Rose Gallardo* | Assistant Stage Manager

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

Season presenting sponsor

Peet’s Coffee

Season sponsor

I Fly OAK

Learn more

The Lunchbox resource guide

See three must-try East Bay South Asian restaurants and family recipes for brinjal, sabzi, and pasanda provided by The Lunchbox cast and creative team members.

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