LIFE IN A ... METRO

Film Review

Starring: Shilpa Shetty, Shiney Ahuja, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, Kay Kay Menon, Sharman Joshi, Manoj Pahwa

The latest trend in 2007 is to create a film featuring numerous characters, a narration of multiple stories and at least three different lessons all in one Bollywood film.  SALAAM-E-ISHQ, HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT. LTD., JUST MARRIED: MARRIAGE WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING and LIFE MEIN KABHIE KABHIE, are all 2007 releases that featured a cast of a dozen and multiple story lines all in the span of 2 – 3 hours!

Life in a…Metro is similar, yet offers something a little different.  With a stellar cast of actors the film focuses on love, commitment, adultery, hopes, dreams, ambitions and a whole load of drama in the metropolitan jungle of Mumbai.

Urban India, especially Mumbai is riding high on a wave of economic progress, fast lives, and a well educated and ambitious population.  Everyone seems to be playing the game of survival, but success itself, comes at a price……that not many are willing to pay.

Anurag Basu, as a director is an incredible storyteller.  After the success of Gangster and Murder, he has perfected the art of portraying complex relationships on screen.  There is no doubt Anurag has the credibility to direct such a film.  He convincingly shows the reality of Life in a…Metro - the shortcuts one has to adopt in life to attain the goals, whether they are ethically ‘right’ or wrong; the distractions that lead us astray; and the sense of wanting the unreal to be real.

The core cast of Metro did a splendid job in their performance.  It was a little strange seeing Dharmendra on screen.  He is well and truly remembered as the ‘Veeru’ of his days.  Seeing him today as an elderly gentleman looking for love – makes you realise that not every actor from the yesteryears can have as much success as the Big B himself. 

Shilpa Shetty was thrust into the limelight, and has become the darling of Britain after her Big Brother win.  All eyes were on her in Britain, as Metro was her first release after the highly controversial Big Brother. 

Shilpa’s acting is convincing and she meaningfully conveys the emotions, the frustration and the neglect her character feels as a stay at home mother.  Her blossoming relationship with Shiney Ahuja’s character could have been explored more and a positive outcome would have been more realistic.

Shiney Ahuja, a handsome and talented actor is a little misunderstood.  He has a range of complexities he can bring to life as an actor, but I felt his role was as appetising as it could have been.

Konkona Sen Sharma, the artistic darling of Bollywood who has show cased her acting prowess in more ways than one, does an outstanding job in this film.  But one does feel that Ms. Sharma did not find the role to be a challenge.

Irrfan Khan proved to be a bit of a surprise for me.  After seeing him in The Namesake, I had encased him in a certain role.  He brings to life the endearing, quirky qualities of his character that will make you love him a little more.

Anurag Basu is an extremely talented director and his films are worth a watch – at least, but why he decided to add a touch of annoyance with the corner street band in Metro, still has me puzzled.

Life in a…Metro is an engaging watch, with a strong cast of characters, emotional thread and great cinematography.