Metro In Dino Movie Review: Discover how Anurag Basu weaves heartbreak, hope, and urban realism in this soulful continuation of his Metro universe.
Over almost two decades, Anurag Basu returns to the emotional architecture of Life in a… Metro (2007). His new film, 2025’s, Metro… In Dino, is not a sequel per se, but a spiritual sequel—a thematic reflection that highlights the chaos of modern-day relationships based in a time of social disconnect, dating apps, anxiety and emotional reawakening.
With an ensemble cast that includes Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Konkona Sen Sharma, the film balances nostalgia with modernity.
What is Metro… In Dino About?
At its core, Metro… In Dino is a multi-narrative urban tale. Much like the original Life in a… Metro, it unfurls disparate characters grapple with the disarray and solitude of life in the city. However, it takes place in Mumbai, and the focus is on six narratives intertwined together, all of which explore the varying types of relationships—romantic, platonic, familial, transaction-based.
Life in a… Metro captured the essence of Mumbai’s corporate and relationship culture in the mid-2000s, while Metro… In Dino looks at how millennials and Gen Z experience heartbreak, ambition, vulnerability, and identity in an age that is hyper-connected, but emotionally disconnected.
Main Themes:
Love during loneliness
Healing and generational trauma
Tradition vs modernity
Authenticity in relationships
Intimacy and detachment in the digital age
Who stole the show?
Aditya Roy Kapur arguably delivers his best performance as a socially recluse travel photographer recovering from a difficult past. Dirge’s casual chemistry with Sari Ali Khan (playing a fiery yet fragile content creator) feels very raw and very real.
Neena Gupta and Pankaj Tripathi are nothing short of a revelation. Their old-age love story (a late-life love story developing in old-age solitude) made me cry, laugh, and appreciate the quiet power of their performances. Particularly, Tripathi, with his simple, restrained, emotional intensity, once again trimmed down to the core why he is one of the best actors in India.
Fatima Sana Shaikh and Ali Fazal’s true ending is about fresh starts, lost opportunities, and communication – albeit communication in a slower storyline providing some of the most meaningful emotional pay-off.
It’s Cone Kana Sen Sharma and Anupam Kher who lend emotional heft to the performances. Kher play a retired professor finding his way after retirement and Konkona delivers a critically engaged performance of a professional women questioning her life decisions having anchored herself to a certain idea of the future.
The City as Character
The film is set in Mumbai and through the cinematography (by Ravi Varman), it shows the city as a living, breathing character. From rain-soaked streets, dimly lit apartments, hectic metro stations, or chaotic coffee shops, each location in the film serves as a gauge for the emotional state of the characters.
There are scenes where the shot lingers a little longer than one may expect, to let the audience relish the silence between the characters. That’s how Metro…In Dino succeeds – it is equally as much about the things not spoken as it is about the dialogue.
Music: The Soulful Soundtrack From Pritam
The music from Metro…In Dino is a reminiscent tribute to its predecessor, with Pritam returning as the music director. The title track featuring Arijit Singh was already a viral sensation before the movie was even released.
The following are some great tracks:
“Metro… In Dino” (Title Track) – An anthem for every person who is lost, hoping to be found, beautifully sung by Arijit.
“Raat Baaki Hai” – A jazzy, sombre number that captures the loneliness of city nights.
“Tera Hi Chehra” – A romantic ballad that uses haunting lyrics to accentuate the precariousness of new love.
“Zindagi Ab Bhi Hai” – An optimistic song about second chances sung by two seniors in Shreya Ghoshal and Lucky Ali in what is an unlikely collaboration.
Writing & Dialogues: Genuine, Relatable, and Raw
The dialogues by Samrat Chakraborty are meant to be understated. Not some great speech or punchlines. This is a film based on authentic, everyday conversations – the conversations we hear in metro trains, the conversations we hear at cafés, a dialog between friends on rooftops.
A couple of examples:
“Kya tum kabhi akeli reh kar bhi khush rahi ho?”
“Hum jitna pretend karte hain strong hone ka, utna hi andar se tootte hain.”
This resonates deeply with urban audiences who engage in the same emotional space.
Audience Response: Trending and Touching the Heart
Metro… In Dino started trending within 48 hours of release on Google Discover, Twitter/X, Instagram Reels, particularly the scenes involving Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. The Gen Z audiences connected with themes of contemporary love, burnout of social media, and emotional recovery.
#MetroInDinoFeels started to trend, already posting their favourite lines, breakdowns of emotion, and music renditions.
Is Metro… In Dino Worth Watching?
Definitely – if you are looking for a thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent film that connects with the issues of people living in the city today. It is not a masala entertainer. It is a mirror, which is held up gently, and getting you to look closely at your own relationships.
Final Verdict:
Metro… In Dino isn’t a loud film, it isn’t a preachy film; it is a beautiful, intimate, meditative experience that demands your attention and returns your empathy to you. It feels like a good book that you don’t want to end.
FAQs
1: Is Metro… In Dino a sequel to Life in a… Metro?
A: Not precisely; it is a thematic sequel not a story sequel to Life in a… Metro – it shares the same emotional space but is populated with different characters and stories.
2: Where can I watch Metro… In Dino?
A: Metro… In Dino is in theatres in India now, and the movie will stream on Netflix India in August 2025.
3: Is the movie family friendly?
A: Yes, despite the adult themes, there is no profanity or graphic sequences.
4: Which story is the strongest?
A: The one with Neena Gupta and Pankaj Tripathi is the strongest, as it was deftly constructed emotionally and subtly.
5: Will it win awards?
A: Probably. TV critics are loving the direction, music and the performances of Neena Gupta and Aditya Roy Kapur.