Eighteen years after Life in a… Metro redefined urban storytelling in Hindi cinema, Anurag Basu returns with Metro… In Dino—a spiritual sequel that weaves together six stories of love, loss, and rediscovery across India’s bustling metros. With a stellar ensemble cast and a soulful soundtrack by Pritam, the film is a heartfelt, if occasionally uneven, exploration of contemporary relationships.
Set across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Bangalore, the film follows four couples navigating emotional crossroads. Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi shine as Kajol and Monty, a middle-aged couple confronting infidelity and stagnation. Their chemistry and comic timing are electric, anchoring the film’s emotional core. Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher bring warmth and nostalgia as college sweethearts reconnecting in their twilight years. Meanwhile, Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur’s youthful pairing adds charm, though Sara’s performance feels inconsistent.
Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh deliver a poignant portrayal of a couple grappling with ambition, distance, and an unplanned pregnancy. Their arc, though familiar, is handled with maturity and subtlety.
The film’s strength lies in its music and mood. Pritam, along with Papon and Raghav Chaitanya, forms the “Metro Band,” performing onscreen and narrating emotions through song. While the soundtrack doesn’t quite match the iconic status of its predecessor, it adds lyrical depth to the narrative.
At 2 hours and 42 minutes, the film occasionally meanders, especially in the second half. Some subplots feel stretched, and not all character arcs land with equal impact. Yet, Basu’s signature whimsy, visual flair, and compassion for flawed characters keep the film afloat.
Metro… In Dino may not surpass the original, but it offers a warm, relatable, and musically rich portrait of love in the digital age—one that reminds us that falling in love is easy, but staying in love takes courage.
Rating: 3.5/5