Life in a Metro Hindi Movie

May 11, 2007 By Ashok Nayak

'Life in a Metro' directed by Anurag Basu talks about the different walks of life that a Metro city has in store. How hard-pressed a life could be in a Metro is demonstrated manifestly. With growing demands in both domestic and professional life, one fails to notice and be contented with what is already there and rather search them in a different sphere. The search never ends but time does…

To describe in few words, 'Metro' is a movie that tells different stories with one common theme: complexities of relationships. It also depicts how one succumbs to the worst conduct just to make money.

There is no such protagonist in the movie and all the characters have equal significance in the story. The story is about seven individuals whose lives are interestingly interlinked.

Rahul (Sharman Joshi) works as an executive in a BPO in the metro city Mumbai. Rahul is a silent lover and admires his boss Neha. He loans his apartment to philandering bosses as a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He wants to make money to fulfill his dead father's desire, to own a restaurant.

Neha (Kangna Ranaut) has rose in the ranks of the company not due to her commitment towards her work but it is because of the affection that her boss Ranjeet has towards her. Ranjeet wants Neha just to fulfill his physical desires. Their easy going relationship takes an unexpected twist when Neha upbraids Ranjeet for exploiting her and not being committed to her.

Ranjeet (Kay Kay Menon) is a married man. He has a 6 year old daughter and lives with his wife Shikha. Shikha is an educated urban girl who decides to give up her profession so that she could concentrate on her family. Soon, their married life turns into a bed of thorns and Ranjeet finds life in Neha and enjoys this extra-marital as there was no clause of commitment.

Meanwhile, Shikha (Shilpa Shetty) is attracted towards Akash. She seeks solace in the company of this friendly stranger on the metro and results in a battle of conscience.

Akash (Shiney Ahuja) is a rebellion and a loser without a cause. He is a divorcee because he could never become something in life. Akash and Shikha's love blossoms and they almost cross their limits.

Shikha's sister Shruti (Konkana Sen Sharma) is an employee at Radiomirchi. She is a virginal singleton who hunts the web pages of a matrimonial site in search of an eligible husband and it is there that she meets the enigmatic Debu (Irrfan Khan).

Amol [Dharmendra] is a 70-year-old man who returns to India after 40 years. He wishes to spend the last few years of his life with his first love, Vaijanti [Nafisa Ali].

Acting:

Shetty conveys her character's anguish, delivering a mature piece of performances adding a feather to her acting abilities. Kay Kay Menon as a cold, self-serving corporate man, and with his grim deportment he carries the character exceptionally well. Irfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma can always be counted on to deliver well-formed characters. Khan brings an alluring charm to Debu creating a character that remains memorable for his quirks and outspokenness. Konkona Sen as ever delivers a natural and believable performance, sparring well with Khan. She is not hugely challenged by her role as the character is not demanding. Sharman Joshi is well cast as the ambitions young aspirant who ultimately reveals a heart. Kangana is not in form this time. Her character holds some similarity with that of her roles in Gangster and Woh Lamhe.

Direction:

Director Anurag Basu's has chosen a contemporary theme and the plot construction of such a complex story line is commendable. But the story gives an appearance of insipidness. The result of few relationships seems hasty and floundering. The appearance of the Metro band at every point of twist and suffering throughout the movie is slightly irritating and are doldrums. The film engages, mostly because of the characterization and a storyline that offers an interesting ven