Metro... In Dino

Did not expect to be hit in the feels like this. Metro... In Dino is that rare film that looks chill on the outside but lowkey punches you in the gut when you're least ready. A mature, layered, emotionally chaotic ride through what love, regret, and timing really mean in today's world.

Anurag Basu is in full control here. The way he juggles multiple stories, characters, moods-it's effortless. The man just gets human complexity. No melodrama, no preachy nonsense-just real people, real pain, and beautifully messy connections.

Konkona Sen Sharma & Pankaj Tripathi are just masterclasses on screen. Quiet brilliance. The rest of the cast also do a brilliant job except for Sara. She for the life of her just cannot act.

Pritam's music is soul touching, haunting, and so well placed that it hurts. It might be one of his most important works. Every note blends effortlessly with the screenplay.

This film isn't trying to impress. It's just honest-and that's what makes it hit. Relationships are messy, people are flawed, and life doesn't always come with closure.

A modern take that tries to recapture the charm of Life in a... Metro, but falls just short.

Anurag Basu, known for his heartfelt, layered storytelling in films like Life in a... Metro, Gangster, Barfi!, and Ludo, returns with Metro... In Dino - a film that attempts to revisit the emotional and interconnected lives of people in a bustling city like Mumbai. While it brings some strong moments and thoughtful themes, it doesn't quite achieve the narrative tightness or emotional resonance of its 2007 predecessor.

Plot Summary (No Major Spoilers): The film follows four parallel stories, each centered around love, loss, and rediscovery:

Akash & Shruti - A married couple on the brink of parenthood, struggling with financial issues and career setbacks. The stress convinces them to consider abortion, raising deep moral and emotional questions.

Parth & Chumki - Chumki, a corporate employee engaged to someone she's unsure about, meets Parth. Their relationship blooms amidst complications, offering a glimpse into modern love and hesitation.

Kajol & Monty - A married couple with a teenage daughter, facing emotional decay as Monty turns to dating apps in search of excitement. Kajol's quiet hurt is among the more affecting aspects of the film.

Shibani & Parimal - Shibani, the mother of Chumki and Kajol, is an older woman who finds companionship in Parimal after years of dealing with her husband's betrayal. Their story offers the most gentle and emotionally honest moments in the film.

Each story unfolds in its own arc but eventually intersects, mirroring the structure of Life in a... Metro, though without the same emotional impact.

What Works: Performances: The cast delivers solid, believable performances, especially the more experienced actors like Neena Gupta (as Shibani) and Anupam Kher (as Parimal). Sara Ali Khan somehow made a very decent comeback as Chumki, and Ali Fazal & Fatima Sana deliver a very nuanced performance.

Pankaj Tripathi performs immaculately, but Konkona & Aditya were very flat in their performance and didn't create much impact in the story.

Music: Pritam manages to maintain the live band sequence this time with Papon & Raghav Chaitanya, similar to Life in a Metro, and delivers a few emotionally resonant tracks that complement the tone. Zamaana Lage and Dil Ka Kya were the main highlights. But too many songs and the balance between scenes & music ratio was off compared to Life in a Metro.

Themes: The film captures relevant emotional and relational issues - urban isolation, generational gaps, infidelity, and the search for meaningful connection, but the 2nd half becomes extremely far-fetched and loses momentum later on, making the end very less tight and out of context.

Overall, this is a one-time watch. While it starts off with a good narrative, the second half becomes too stretched with too many songs, and the editing is less crisp. Maybe a tighter ending, this would've been my two cents of advice to Anurag Basu.

The movie is good in parts only.

But why have the makers portrayed only women-centric sub-stories? Why only women are being shown at the receiving end in a relationship?

Are there no unhappy or dissatisfied men out there?

A more balanced approach would have been to include at least one relationship where the man is the one who needs validation.

The only sub-plot making proper sense is that of Aditya Roy Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan. Rest all are extremely lopsided and sometimes over the top too.

Was hoping to see the magic of 'Life in a Metro' being repeated, but, that movie was at another level.

This one is a one time watch.

Metro In Dino opens with one of the best musical beginnings, where characters break the fourth wall and instantly pull you in. You do not even realise when twenty minutes have flown by. Everyone in the cast does well, though Ali and Fatima come across as slightly stiff in emotionally charged scenes. Adi is effortless and charismatic, and Sara pairs well with him. Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher remind you of their experience with ease. Pankaj and Konkona are the real standouts, with Pankaj bringing sharp comic timing through his subtle expressions and improvised bits. Pritam's music is wonderfully woven into the narrative. The songs do not just support the story, they carry its soul.

The first half is tight and keeps you thoroughly engaged.

It is the second half where the film loses some grip. The storylines begin to feel stretched, and the endings are not clearly defined. A few subplots could have been skipped to bring in more clarity and depth. That said, the camerawork and visual setups in some scenes are beautiful and worth appreciating. The film explores themes of infidelity and emotional detachment, and it leaves you with a feeling that this is the generalisation the film wants you to settle with. The resolution feels rushed and a bit too convenient. In the end, Metro In Dino remains a musically rich experience with a gripping first half, but the latter part misses the same emotional weight and leaves you wishing for a more satisfying conclusion.

OVERALL 7.5/10.

7+1 stars. +1 star for soothing music. Anurag Da's storyline and music taste is next level. Pankaj Tripathi sir, Anupam Kher sir, the dark horse in this movie. Interval Song is just superb. Storytelling with songs one of the finest for this year. Konkana mam's story was my favourite. Aditya Roy Kapoor looks refreshing. Music from Pritam Da, and Papon in ending just brought old memories. Small small details brought life to the movie. Other supporting actor were also impressive. Movie is quite long. But songs doesn't makes you feel the same. Monsoon season in the movie and the rain scenes are just awesome.