The Lunchbox: Critics choice for the Oscars

Irrfan Khan's The Lunchbox, set to release this Friday, is winning a lot of rave at the film festivals and the private screenings that its been to.

In fact, most critics have picked this film as a favourite that should be sent to the Oscar awards.

We speak to a few:

Raja Sen: Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox is a remarkable film. A touching story of tiffins and timing, and of life and its lovely ironies. Wonderfully acted and written with restraint, it is by far the best Indian film this year. It will appeal to arthouse audiences everywhere.

Aseem Chhabra:Looking at how people at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals have reacted to The Lunchbox, I think that film has a good chance of being nominated for the Oscars. It has all the right elements that would make it appeal to the Academy. I don't have a crystal ball, and there many other good Indian films in 2013 but I think India's chances appear stronger with The Lunchbox.

Rajeev Masand: I think it should be The Lunchbox because it is such an intrinsically Indian story, and yet has such a universal appeal. Also because it is exquisitely written directed and performed. Such an incredibly moving film!

Mayank Shekhar: Haven’t seen a film more artistic engaging introspective and ‘Indian’ than Anand Gandhi’s The Ship Of Theseus. Absolutely qualifies as World Cinema. The Film Federation may have to work around the fact that the movie is for a large part in English . If I am not mistaken the Academy accepts entries only in local languages of the country for the Foreign Films category.

Pritish Nandy: The Lunchbox, undoubtedly. The word is awaiting it.