Life in a Metro

Life in a Metro ------------------------- A story of life called Mumbai.

Movie starts with an introduction song of characters, housewife Shika (Shilpa Shetty), a well educated and trained classical dancer, who preferred to stay at home to look after family and a kid. Ranjeet (Kay Kay Menon) in a mid 30s working in a call centre as a senior manager.

Due to differences in married life Shikha got attracted towards Akash (Shiney Ahuja). Akash is a struggling theater actor, working hard to get a job. Akash's wife separated from him. Shikha came into Akash's life to comfort each other.

Akash and Shikha's relationship starts as friendship and almost blossoms romantically, until Shikha feels guilty and cannot cross her limits that she has so fervently guarded all these years.

Amol (Dharmendra) is a 70 year old man who has returned to India after 40 years to spend last few years of his life with his first love, Shivani (Nafisa Ali), who is also Shikha's dance teacher.

Rahul (Sharman Joshi) is a young man with dreams, working as a call center executive in a BPO in Mumbai. He silently loves Neha (Kangana Ranaut), a smart,young woman who has made it up the ranks in a very short time, due to her relationship with her boss, Ranjeet.

Shikha's sister and Neha's room-mate, Shruti (Konkona Sen Sharma) works in at Radio Mirchi as a producer. She is at the age of 28 and despo to get married. She meets Monty (Irrfan Khan) through a matrimonial site, but she is unimpressed by the straight-forward and socially inept Monty. While Monty likes her and is ready to marry her she declines when she finds him ogling at her. She is, however, dreamy eyed about her RJ, Rishi K. Her boss hooks her up with Rishi K, and her relationship with him blossoms.

Rahul has a novel strategy to rise up the ladder of success. He provides his flat to his superiors colleagues in office, where they can safely bring their mistresses, girlfriends or prostitutes, in return for recommendation for his promotion. Ranjeet also uses the flat to meet Neha.

Amidst one of their escapades in Rahul's flat, Neha asks Ranjeet about their future, which leads to an argument. He insults her and leaves. Indignant, she attempts suicide. Rahul finds her lying unconscious, and saves her. He brings her back to his house, which brings them closer.

Shruti is heartbroken when she discovers that Rishi K is gay. She leaves the job and joins a new job where she again meets Monty. Slowly, they become friends. Meanwhile, Shruti comes to know about Ranjeet and Neha.

Ranjeet panics and confesses to Shikha of his 2 year affair with Neha. An already guilt-stricken Shikha cannot hold it in any longer and tells him about her emotional relationship with Akash. Ironically, Ranjeet is shocked and angry, and decides to leave his wife.

Amol and Shivani were living together as like partners. The day Shivani dies, Amol regrets the decision to leave Shivani 40 years back, stressing the importance of love to Shikha and Shruti.

Shruti realizes that she loves Monty, and tells him so just as he is about to go for his wedding.

Meanwhile Ranjit asks for keys of flat to Rahul, Rahul declines as he loves Neha.

Rahul is disillusioned with the way the metro has treated him and decides to resign and leave the city. In another story Akash decides to leave the country and asks Shikha to join him.

Neha realizes that Rahul really loves her, and follows him to the station. Ranjeet returns to Shikha, who is just about to leave for the station to see Akash.

Neha chases Rahul. Monty chases Shruti. Shikha comes to the station but not to accompany Akash. She wishes him good luck, tells him that she will miss him.

While the credits roll, we are shown that Akash is still roaming the streets of Mumbai, Shikha and Ranjeet are in a happier marriage, and Rahul is living happily with Neha. Shruti and Monty are also happily married and have a kid.

Movie had a beautiful backdrop of Mumbai, mostly South Mumbai. Metro emphasis on extra-marital affairs, corporate political showdowns and makes a statement about love life and mistakes we often do in our day to day life. Shikha and Ranjeet symbolize new age career oriented couple and problems aroused due to stress and negligence towards partner.

Rahul shows an futuristic approach to go up the ladder, he offers his flat to his managers in returns of appraisals for promotion and to fill up his dream of having own restaurant.

Monty plays a role of youth, ogling at girls and despo to get married at age of 38+.

Story of Rahul, Neha and Ranjit is copied from Billy Wilder's 1961 classic The Apartment.

A lot of Akash, Shikha track was lifted from Adrian Lynne's Unfaithful.

Few good dialogs from movie :

1. Ye shahar jitna hame deta hai, usase kai jyada leta hai. (Monty to Shruti)
2. Petrol aur jawani, hamesha nai rehnewale, sambhal ke kharch karo. (Neighbor to Rahul)
3. Money makes sweetest music. (By Rahul)
4. Ye race hai, koi morning walk nahi. (Rahul to Ranjit)
5. Rishta to koi guarantee card ke sath to aayega nahi, ki kam nahi kara change karlo.(Monty to Shruti).

Thanks,

Nikhil. :)