Anurag Basu returns with Metro… In Dino, a soulful drizzle of storytelling that feels like the season’s first rain — gentle, nostalgic, and quietly stirring. Set against the pulse of Indian metros, this anthology doesn’t shout its emotions; it lets them bloom in silences, glances, and small, everyday miracles. Basu weaves a tender symphony of love, loss, and second chances — where strangers cross paths, hearts collide, and rediscovery unfolds like poetry in motion. The characters feel less like performances and more like people you’ve passed on the street, carrying fragments of your own story. (metro in dino movie review)

Hamesha der kar deta hoon main…”
Muneer Niyazi’s haunting verse echoes like a soft lament when Ali Fazal’s Aakash — a bruised musician fumbling through love and life — crumbles before his journalist wife, Shruti, in the closing moments of Metro… In Dino. It’s a moment steeped in silence, regret, and the ache of unsaid words.

And yet, like Niyazi’s timeless line, Anurag Basu may arrive late, but he arrives just right.
Eighteen years after the cult classic Life in a… Metro, Basu’s follow-up is a quiet triumph — tender, tangled, and achingly human. Metro… In Dino doesn’t scream for attention; it flows — like old rain remembered, like melodies long forgotten, like love returning in fragments. (metro in dino movie review)

In Basu’s world, delay isn’t defeat — it’s destiny.
Der aaye, Basu sahab… magar kamaal laaye.

Metro… In Dino, which released in theatres on July 4 (Friday), is a good and more realised update of Life in a… Metro.

Metro… In Dino – Plot (metro in dino movie review)

Metro… In Dino opens like a symphony of city lives — with music as the narrator, gently peeling back the layers of its characters. Each lyric becomes a window into stories that are far from perfect — tangled in longing, stained by silence, and pulsing with vulnerability.

At the heart of it all is Kajol Ghosh (Konkona Sensharma), locked in a marriage with the eccentric Monty (Pankaj Tripathi). One Holi afternoon, amidst bursts of color and casual conversations, Monty and his friends touch on the taboo — extramarital affairs. As Kajol navigates the shadows of betrayal, her mother Shibani Ghosh (Neena Gupta) fights a quieter, older battle: the aching absence of respect in a marriage long past its prime. It’s only during a college reunion that Shibani feels the unfamiliar air of freedom.

Meanwhile, her younger daughter Chumki (Sara Ali Khan) is caught in a romantic seesaw. Her relationship with Anand (Kush Jotwani) is fragile, hanging by threads of mistrust — until Parth (Aditya Roy Kapur) unexpectedly walks in, like a misplaced piece that suddenly makes sense in her chaotic puzzle.

Woven into this emotional mosaic are Akash (Ali Fazal) and Shruti (Fatima Sana Shaikh) — a couple scarred by a failing marriage, confronting the echoes of what once was and what might never be again. Their story doesn’t run parallel to the others; it reflects them, refracts them — like a mirror held up to love’s quiet unraveling. (metro in dino movie review)

In Metro… In Dino, Anurag Basu crafts a web of intersecting lives where love doesn’t arrive in grand gestures, but lingers in glances, regrets, and second chances. It’s not just about falling in love — it’s about holding on when it’s easier to let go.

Direction & Storytelling in Metro… In Dino: Where Music Meets Emotion (metro in dino movie review)

Metro… In Dino opens on a lyrical high note. With Pritam, Papon, and Raghav Chaitanya — known as the Metro Band — the story unfolds like a musical tapestry, where songs carry the soul of the film. The dialogues feel poetic, the emotions feel raw, and even the silences say something. (metro in dino movie review)

Anurag Basu brings together four parallel love stories with warmth, sensitivity, and his signature touch of whimsy. The stories explore deep themes — like infidelity, generational trauma, emotional distance, and unspoken longing — without ever feeling preachy or overdone. Every character feels real, every emotion earned.

At the heart of the film is the troubled marriage of Kajol (Konkona Sensharma) and Monty (Pankaj Tripathi). Their relationship, weighed down by silence and uncertainty, becomes the emotional spine of the movie. In one sweet scene, Monty, giddy with excitement after matching with a woman on a dating app, breaks into a little dance — while joyful music plays in the background. It’s a small, magical moment that captures the essence of Basu’s storytelling: light, layered, and full of heart.

Meanwhile, Kajol’s confrontation with her mother Shibani (Neena Gupta) — who tells her to “adjust” in her marriage — becomes one of the film’s most powerful scenes. Kajol’s quiet rebellion shows she refuses to let past pain define her present.

While some stories offer lightness and charm, the most emotionally intense thread is Akash (Ali Fazal) and Shruti’s (Fatima Sana Shaikh) long-distance marriage. Their journey, filled with quiet grief, unmet expectations, and emotional fatigue, brings a stark realism to the film — a reminder that love sometimes fades not from lack of effort, but from the weight of it.

Backed by strong direction and a soul-stirring soundtrack, Metro… In Dino turns everyday emotions into cinematic poetry. It may end on a predictable note, but the journey is anything but ordinary. (metro in dino movie review)

What Works, What Doesn’t in Metro… In Dino (metro in dino movie review)

The first half of Metro… In Dino blends drama, humor, and emotional depth with ease. Anurag Basu leaves space for the audience to interpret the unfolding stories, creating intrigue without over-explaining. (metro in dino movie review)

While the second half slows down and leans into familiar territory, the unhurried pace allows the emotions to settle. Though a bit stretched, the runtime feels justified.

Standout performances come from Neena Gupta–Anupam Kher, Konkona Sensharma–Pankaj Tripathi, and Fatima Sana Shaikh–Ali Fazal. Their stories carry emotional weight and authenticity.

Aditya Roy Kapur adds charm, but his storyline with Sara Ali Khan falls flat. Her performance lacks conviction, making their segment the weakest of the ensemble. (metro in dino movie review)

Performances That Power the Heart of the Film (metro in dino movie review)

Anupam Kher shines as Parimal Sarkar, a widower quietly challenging patriarchal norms while sharing a heartfelt bond with his widowed daughter-in-law. It’s a beautifully layered role, brought to life with grace and restraint. Neena Gupta, in a role that fits her like a glove, is wise, wounded, and wonderfully witty — making Shibani deeply relatable. (metro in dino movie review)

Pankaj Tripathi surprises yet again, shedding his usual intensity for a lighter, more playful role — and completely owning it. Konkona Sensharma delivers one of the film’s strongest performances. As a modern woman torn between duty and desire, she’s both powerful and free-spirited — especially in the film’s second half.

Ali Fazal is deeply compelling, capturing heartbreak with subtlety and emotional range. His chemistry with Fatima Sana Shaikh works, though her character feels underwritten. Still, Fatima holds her ground with sincerity.

Aditya Roy Kapur brings his signature charm, and while his storyline falters, he remains a bright spot. Unfortunately, Sara Ali Khan squanders a promising role — her performance lacks the depth and conviction needed to leave a mark. (metro in dino movie review)

Who should watch this movie? (metro in dino movie review)

If you’ve ever sat on a crowded metro, lost in thought, wondering about the lives around you — this film is for you. Metro… In Dino isn’t about grand drama; it’s about quiet emotions, second chances, and love that lingers in silences.

Watch it if you: (metro in dino movie review)

• Loved Life in a… Metro
  
• Enjoy heartfelt slice-of-life stories
  
• Appreciate layered performances (especially by Konkona, Neena, Pankaj, and Ali)
  
• Believe music can carry emotions words cannot
  

For anyone who’s ever loved, lost, or simply felt too much — this film will feel like a soft echo of your own story. (metro in dino movie review)

From Glances to Goodbyes: Basu’s City of Hearts Beats On (metro in dino movie review)

Metro… In Dino reminds us that life in the city is a blur of strangers, scars, and silent hopes — and yet, sometimes, the most unexpected connection can become a lifeline. With melody as its heartbeat and emotion as its compass, the film is a beautiful, bittersweet ride through the chaos of the heart.

It’s not perfect — but then, neither is love. And that’s exactly the point. (metro in dino movie review)

Just like the film, we know every reader brings their own story to the screen — a memory stirred by a scene, a tear that surprised you, or a smile that stayed long after the lights came up. So tell us… which story in Metro… In Dino mirrored a chapter from your own life? Was it Akash and Shruti’s quiet unraveling, Kajol’s search for self, or Shibani’s late-blooming liberation? Drop your thoughts in the comments — we’d love to hear which moment found its way into your heart. (metro in dino movie review)

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