Plot & Performances
Metro… In Dino (Hindi, 2025), directed by Anurag Basu, is a spiritual successor to Life in a… Metro (2007). Much like its predecessor, this ensemble romantic drama thrives on interconnected stories about modern relationships, told through urban backdrops—Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Pune. Basu expands his canvas with complexity and chaos, portraying the shifting definitions of love, longing, and commitment in the digital age.
Anchored by Konkona Sen Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi—whose bittersweet marital dynamic forms the emotional spine—the film glides between tales of heartbreak, rekindling, disillusionment, and self-discovery. While Tripathi’s comic timing brings levity to heavier scenes, Konkona delivers a performance that balances quiet strength with emotional vulnerability.
Aditya Roy Kapur plays Parth, a careless travel vlogger who meets Sara Ali Khan’s Chumki, a socially awkward yet hopeful HR consultant. Their chemistry is serviceable, though the script doesn’t always give them enough emotional depth. Fatima Sana Shaikh and Ali Fazal provide a more nuanced portrayal of a couple caught between ambition and domesticity. Meanwhile, Neena Gupta and Anupam Kher shine in their segment as aging lovers confronting the ghosts of youth.
However, a subplot involving a queer teenager questioning her identity feels undercooked and tonally off, despite noble intentions. It’s one of the few blemishes in a film that otherwise strives for empathy and connection.
Technical Aspects
Cinematography & Editing
The cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee beautifully captures the soul of India’s metro cities—rain-washed streets, cluttered flats, glowing nightclubs, and quiet corners. Each location breathes with lived-in authenticity. Bodhaditya Banerjee’s editing keeps transitions smooth across the multiple storylines, although the 162-minute runtime could’ve used some trimming in the second half.
Music & Sound Design
Pritam, Papon, and Raghav Chaitanya return with the signature Metro Band, playing the role of musical narrators throughout. From soft qawwalis to introspective ballads, the soundtrack is both evocative and excessive. While some songs enhance the storytelling, others feel intrusive, stretching emotional moments unnecessarily.
What Works & What Doesn’t
What Works
Performances: Konkona, Tripathi, Fatima, and Fazal are clear standouts, lending depth to their characters.
Direction: Basu’s whimsical storytelling style, reminiscent of Barfi and Jagga Jasoos, blends melancholy with lightness.
Themes: The film touches on love’s contradictions—intimacy and distance, freedom and obligation—without easy moralising.
What Doesn’t
Queer Representation: The subplot involving a teen’s exploration of sexuality feels superficial and, at times, problematic. It lacks the sensitivity and research such a theme deserves.
Runtime: The film overstays its welcome by about 20 minutes. Several arcs resolve too conveniently, while others are left hanging.
Repetitiveness: Some scenes echo earlier sequences too closely, especially in the second half.
Final Verdict: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Metro… In Dino is not flawless, but it’s heartfelt. In an industry increasingly drawn to spectacle and nationalism, Anurag Basu’s focus on urban relationships and emotional nuance feels refreshing. The film’s fragmented narrative mirrors the disjointed way people experience love today—some parts vibrant, others barely stitched together, but never entirely meaningless.
The film’s greatest strength lies in its empathy. Even when it stumbles, it does so earnestly. Watch it for Konkona, Pankaj Tripathi, and the lingering nostalgia of love in the time of chaos.