Life in a... Metro

Life in a... Metro
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Anurag Basu
Produced by	Ronnie Screwvala
Screenplay by	Anurag Basu
Story by	Anurag Basu
Starring	Dharmendra Nafisa Ali Shilpa Shetty Kay Kay Menon Shiney Ahuja Irfan Khan Konkona Sen Sharma Sharman Joshi Kangana Ranaut
Music by	Pritam Chakraborty
Cinematography	Bobby Singh
Editing by	Akiv Ali
Distributed by	UTV Motion Pictures
Release date(s)	May 11, 2007
Running time	133 mins
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Life in a... Metro is a 2007 Hindi film directed by Anurag Basu, set in Mumbai, and starring Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Shilpa Shetty, Shiney Ahuja, Kay Kay Menon, Kangana Ranaut, Sharman Joshi, Konkona Sen Sharma and Irrfan Khan in pivotal roles. The music is composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. The film was released on 11 May 2007.^[1] The film narrates the individual lives of nine people living in Mumbai,^[2] and deals with topics like extramarital affairs, sanctity of marriage, and love. The film is loosely based on the 1960 movie The Apartment.

Synopsis

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 (Kay Kay Menon).

In his 30s, Ranjeet is married to Shikha (Shilpa Shetty) and has a six-year-old daughter. Shikha is well educated, and a trained dancer. Ranjeet and Shikha decided that she should stay back at home and take care of the house and their child. Their eight-year marriage has turned loveless and bitter.

Neglected by an indifferent husband and bogged down by family chores, Shikha is attracted to maverick Akash (Shiney Ahuja). Akash is a struggling theater artist who is separated from his wife. Akash and Shikha's relationship starts as friendship and almost blossoms romantically, until Shikha feels guilty and cannot cross the 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 his last few years with his first love, Shivani (Nafisa Ali), who is also Shikha's former dance teacher.

Shikha's sister and Neha's roommate Shruti (Konkona Sen Sharma) works in at Radio Mirchi as a producer. She is 28 and desperate to get married. She meets Monty (Irrfan Khan, in an award-winning comedy role) through a matrimonial site, but she is unimpressed by the straightforward and socially inept Monty. While Monty likes her and is ready to marry her, she declines when she finds him ogling 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 at the 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 gets a new one 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 two-year affair with Neha. An already guilt-stricken Shikha cannot hold it in any longer and tells him about her emotional relationship with Akash. Ranjeet is shocked and angry, and decides to leave his wife.

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 Akash decides to leave the country and asks Shikha to join him. On the other hand, Rahul is disillusioned with the way the metro has treated him and decides to resign and leave the city. 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 Akash 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.

Cast

• Shiney Ahuja as Akash
• Shilpa Shetty as Shikha
• Kay Kay Menon as Ranjeet
• Sharman Joshi as Rahul
• Konkona Sen Sharma as Shruti
• Kangna Ranaut as Neha
• Irrfan Khan as Monty
• Dharmendra as Amol
• Nafisa Ali as Shivani
• Ashwin Mushran as Shruti's Boss
• Manoj Pahwa as Rahul's Neighbour (Doctor)
• Vicky Ahuja as Rahul's Boss (Gupta)
• Gautam Kapoor as RJ
• Soham Chakraborty
• Pritam
• James

Box office

Life in a... Metro was the 26th highest grossing Indian film of 2007 with a gross of Rs. 24,83,00,000. With the help of publicity from Shilpa Shetty's Celebrity Big Brother appearance, the film became a semi-hit at the box office^[3] with a 50-55% response.

Music

Life in a... Metro
Soundtrack album by Pritam Chakraborty
Released	21 August 2007 (India)
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	39:22
Label	Sony BMG
Producer	Pritam Chakraborty
Pritam Chakraborty chronology
Kya Love Story Hai (2006) Life In A... Metro (2007) Raqeeb (2007)

The soundtrack was released in 21 August 2007. Life In A... Metro's music was composed by Pritam Chakraborty with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. In the film, a rock band led by Pritam plays at important junctures and takes the story forward. This is considered to be a first in Indian film.^{[citation needed]} The entire music score in Life In A... Metro is heavily rock-oriented. The four-member band along with Pritam, Suhail Kaul, Soham Chakraborty and Bangladeshi singer James. Bob Dylan's "I Want You" plays in the background when Shruti and Rishi are at a vending machine and Shruti mistakes Rishi to be gesturing and speaking with her. The song does not appear on the soundtrack.

Track listing

• "In Dino" - Soham Chakraborty
• "Alvida" - KK
• "O Meri Jaan" - KK
• "Rishtey" - James
• "Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si" - Adnan Sami
• "Kar Salaam" - Suhail Kaul, Soham Chakraborty & Pritam Chakraborty
• "Alvida (Reprise)" - James
• "O Meri Jaan (Reprise)" - Suhail Kaul
• "Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si (Unplugged)" - Suhail Kaul

Awards

2008 Filmfare Awards

• Best Supporting Actress - Konkona Sen Sharma
• Best Supporting Actor - Irrfan Khan
• Best Screenplay - Anurag Basu

2008 Zee Cine Award

• Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Female - Shilpa Shetty

2008 IIFA Awards

• Best Supporting Actress - Konkona Sen Sharma
• Best Supporting Actor - Irrfan Khan
• Best Screenplay - Anurag Basu (jointly with Jaideep Sahni for Chak De India)

Other awards

• 2008 Star Screen Award for Best Comedian - Irrfan Khan
• 2008 Stardust Breakthrough Performance Award (Female) - Kangana Ranaut

References

1. ^ "indiafm.com". Metro to release on May 11. http://www.indiafm.com/trade/releasedates/index.html. Retrieved 5 April 2007. 
2. ^ "indiaglitz.com". Metro follows the six individual lives. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/27950.html. Retrieved 17 January 2007. 
3. ^ "Box Office 2007". BoxOffice India.com. http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=214&catName=MjAwNw==. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 

External links

• Life In A... Metro: Official Website
• Metro at the Internet Movie Database