# Life in a... Metro

Life in a... Metro is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language drama film co-produced, co-written, and directed by Anurag Basu. Partly inspired by Billy Wilder's romantic comedy film The Apartment (1960), it features an ensemble cast of Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, and Sharman Joshi in lead roles. The music is composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri. It narrates the lives of nine people living in Mumbai and deals with topics such as extramarital affairs, sanctity of marriage, commitment phobia, and love.
Made on a budget of ₹70 million, Life in a... Metro was released on 11 May 2007 and was a surprise commercial success at the box office, grossing over ₹250 million worldwide. It received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with high praise for its novel concept, story, screenplay, dialogues, soundtrack and performances of the ensemble cast.
At the 53rd Filmfare Awards, Life in a... Metro received six nominations, including Best Director (Basu) and Best Music Director (Pritam), and won three awards – Best Supporting Actor (Khan), Best Supporting Actress (Sen Sharma) and Best Screenplay (Basu).

## Plot

The story takes place in Mumbai.
Rahul, who is eager to move up the ranks in his call center job, lends his apartment to people connected to his boss, Ranjit, for bringing their girlfriends and affair interests in turn for recommendation. He silently loves Neha, his colleague, who has risen up in the ranks easily due to her relationship with Ranjit.
Ranjit is very unhappy with his marriage with his wife Shikha with whom he has an eight-year-old daughter. Shikha, who often meets her aunt, Shivani in her Bharatanatyam classes, reads out a letter from the US from Amol, whom Shivani loved forty years ago, but he left her to pursue his dreams in the US. Amol conveys through the letter that he is probably coming to India for the last time and wishes to meet Shivani and spend his last days with her. Shivani agrees.
Shikha's sister, Shruti, is twenty-seven and very eager to get married and meets many prospective grooms. Among them is Monty, who Shruti finds very weird and old. Shruti is Neha's roommate and Neha knows that Shruti is Ranjit's sister-in-law.
One day, Shikha meets Akash, an unsuccessful theatre artist and a divorcee at a bus stop. He practices drama with his friends in the floor above Shivani's Bharatanatyam classes. They start off as friends, but slowly start getting close and visit places non-romantically.
Monty helps Shruti get a job in his company and they become friends. Monty also conveys that his mother has found an ideal bride for him, and asks Shruti's help with the wedding shopping. Shruti slowly starts falling for Monty.
Amol and Shivani, who have rekindled their love spend one night together. In the morning, Shivani wakes up and experiences some pains, at which point Amol calls for an ambulance. She dies in his arms.
During one of meetings of Neha and Ranjit in Rahul's apartment, argument ensues between the two and Ranjit leaves. Neha, upset, attempts suicide by drinking phenyl.
Rahul finds Neha passed out in the bathroom and calls his neighbor who is a doctor; they are able to save Neha by making her vomit and admit her in a hospital. Rahul calls up Ranjit, who has left for Bangalore due to an urgent business, who tells him to take care of Neha for a few days.
Rahul, meanwhile, starts taking care of the recovering Neha and they form a special bond. One day, Rahul takes her to the outskirts of the city to an unfinished house. Rahul explains to Neha that his father's dream was to build a good house or a restaurant, and he had invested everything into this house. But he didn't have enough money to complete the ceiling and a few parts of the house. Now, Rahul is determined to fulfill his father's dream.
Shruti manages to track down Neha in Rahul's house. Realizing that she has attempted suicide, Shruti misunderstands the situation and slaps Rahul. Afterwards, Shriti finds that Ranjit was having an affair with Neha.
Meanwhile, Shikha visits Akash in his home, where they get physically close. Just before they get even more intimate, Shikha realizes her boundaries and leaves Akash's home.
Ranjit, who has arrived at home, sees Shikha crying and misunderstands that Shruti has told about Ranjit's affair. Ranjit then confesses himself. After confessing, Shikha says that Shruti never told her anything and confesses her friendship and closeness with Akash. Ranjit, enraged, decides to move in with Neha. Monty announces his wedding date to Shruti, who has fallen for him. Ranjit asks Rahul for the keys to which he resigns, and him, upset with the way the city has treated him, decides to leave Mumbai by train.
On the day of Monty's wedding, Rahul decides to leave, Ranjit is on the way to take Neha to a hotel, and Akash sends Shikha her handbag which she left in Akash's house. He also sends her a letter that says that he is ready to accept her the way she is: a housewife, or as a modern girl. He also writes that he has been offered a job in Dubai and he is ready to leave for the airport by train and she must come with him.
While traveling with Ranjit, Neha realizes that she loves Rahul and starts chasing his taxi to the railway station. Shruti conveys her feelings to Monty right before the wedding and leaves. Monty also realizes that he loves Shruti and chases her taxi to the same railway station on the wedding horse. Shikha dresses up and goes to the railway station.
In the railway station, Monty chases Shruti, Neha chases Rahul, and Shikha searches for Akash. Neha catches up Rahul and they patch things up. Monty finally finds Shruti in a ladies compartment and enters it. They realize their love for each other and hug. Shikha finds Akash, but tells him that she is not going to come with him and wishes him the best for his job in Dubai and leaves.
The movie ends with Rahul and Neha eating dinner with the doctor and his wife from their neighborhood, Shikha and Ranjit in a happier marriage, Shruti and Monty, who have married, waiting in a traffic signal with their three-year-old child and Akash still roaming the streets of Mumbai.

## Cast

* Dharmendra as Amol, Shivani's childhood love interest
* Nafisa Ali as Shivani, Amol's childhood love interest, Shikha and Shruti's aunt
* Shilpa Shetty as Shikha Ghosh Kapoor, Ranjit's wife, Shruti's sister, Shivani's niece, Akash's love interest
* Kay Kay Menon as Ranjit Kapoor, Shikha's husband, Shruti's brother-in-law, Neha's boss/love interest, Rahul's boss
* Shiney Ahuja as Akash Sharma, Shikha's love interest
* Irrfan Khan as Monty, Shruti's love interest
* Konkona Sen Sharma as Shruti Ghosh, Shikha's sister, Ranjit's sister-in-law, Shivani's niece, Monty's love interest, Neha's roommate
* Kangana Ranaut as Neha Grewal, Shruti's roommate, Ranjit's love interest, Rahul's crush
* Sharman Joshi as Rahul Dhupia, Ranjit's subordinate, Neha's colleague
* Ashwin Mushran as Abdullah Ansari, Shruti's boss
* Manoj Pahwa as Dr. Pritam Ahuja, Rahul's neighbor
* Pritam Chakraborty as Rock Band Leader (Guest appearance)

## Box office

Life in a... Metro was the 26th highest grossing Bollywood film of 2007, grossing ₹227.5 million (US$2.6 million). It became a semi-hit at the box office, despite taking a below average opening.

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on 17 March 2007. Life In A... Metro's music was composed by Pritam with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri, Amitabh Verma and Sandeep Srivastava. 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. According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 11,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's twelfth highest-selling.

### Production

The song "Alvida" was composed by Pritam back in 90's when he was still struggling.

### Metro Band

Pritam formed the band Metro with Suhail Kaul and the Bangladeshi singer Fahruk Mahfuz Anam a.k.a. James that performed the songs in the movie.
In the film, this rock band led by Pritam plays at important junctures and takes the story forward. This is considered to be a first in Indian film. The music score in Life In A... Metro is heavily rock-oriented. The four-members were Pritam, Suhail Kaul, Soham Chakraborty and Bangladeshi singer James.

### Track list

| Track Name | Lyrics | Singer | Band Metro | Remixed by |
| Alvida | Amitabh Verma | KK | N | |
| Alvida (Reprise) | Amitabh Verma | Fahruk Mahfuz Anam (James) | Y | |
| Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si | Sandeep Srivastava | Adnan Sami | N | |
| Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si (Unplugged) | Sandeep Srivastava | Suhail Kaul | Y | |
| Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si (Remix) | Sandeep Srivastava | Adnan Sami | N | DJ A-Myth |
| In Dino | Sayeed Quadri | Soham Chakraborty | Y | |
| In Dino (Reprise) | Sayeed Quadri | Roopkumar Rathod | N | Bunty Rajput |
| Kar Salaam | Sayeed Quadri | Soham Chakraborty Pritam Chakraborty Suhail Kaul | Y | |
| O Meri Jaan | Sandeep Srivastava | KK | N | |
| O Meri Jaan (Reprise) | Sandeep Srivastava | Suhail Kaul & K. K. | Y | |
| Rishtey | Sayeed Quadri | Fahruk Mahfuz Anam (James) | Y | |
| Rishtey (Remix) | Sayeed Quadri | Fahruk Mahfuz Anam (James) | N | DJ Nikhil Chinappa DJ Naved |

## Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [9] [10] |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Screenplay | Anurag Basu | Won | [9] [10] |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Dialogue | Sanjeev Dutta | Nominated | [9] [10] |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Supporting Actor | Irrfan Khan | Won | [9] [10] |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Konkona Sen Sharma | Won | [9] [10] |
| Filmfare Awards | 16 February 2008 | Best Music Director | Pritam | Nominated | [9] [10] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Film | Life in a... Metro – UTV Motion Pictures | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Story | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Screenplay | Anurag Basu | Won | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Konkona Sen Sharma | Won | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Supporting Actor | Irrfan Khan | Won | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Performance in a Comic Role | Irrfan Khan | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Performance in a Negative Role | Kay Kay Menon | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | 6 – 8 June 2008 | Best Lyricist | Sayeed Quadri – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [11] [12] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Film | Life in a... Metro – Ronnie Screwvala | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Screenplay | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Shilpa Shetty | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Konkona Sen Sharma | Won | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Irrfan Khan | Won | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Irrfan Khan | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Actor in a Negative Role | Kay Kay Menon | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Music Director | Pritam | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Male Playback Singer | Soham Chakrabarty – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Dialogue | Sanjeev Dutta | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Cinematography | Bobby Singh | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Editing | Akiv Ali | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Producers Guild Film Awards | 30 March 2008 | Best Sound Recording | Hitendra Ghosh | Nominated | [13] [14] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Film | Life in a... Metro | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Story | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Screenplay | Anurag Basu | Won | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Supporting Actor | Sharman Joshi | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Konkona Sen Sharma | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Irrfan Khan | Won | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Music Director | Pritam | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Lyricist | Sayeed Quadri – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Male Playback Singer | Soham Chakrabarty – for ("In Dino") | Won | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Dialogue | Sanjeev Dutta | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Cinematography | Bobby Singh | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Editing | Akiv Ali | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Screen Awards | 10 January 2008 | Best Background Music | Raju Singh | Nominated | [15] [16] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Best Film | Life in a... Metro | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Dream Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Supporting Actor | Irrfan Khan | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Best Supporting Actress | Konkona Sen Sharma | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Breakthrough Performance – Female | Kangana Ranaut | Won | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | New Musical Sensation – Male | Soham Chakrabarty – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | New Musical Sensation – Male | Suhail Kaul – ("Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si") | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Stardust Awards | 25 January 2008 | Standout Performance by a Lyricist | Sandeep Srivastava – ("Baatein Kuch Ankahein Si") | Nominated | [17] [18] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Film | Life in a... Metro | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Director | Anurag Basu | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male | Irrfan Khan | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female | Konkona Sen Sharma | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female | Shilpa Shetty | Won | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Music Director | Pritam | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Lyricist | Sayeed Quadri – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Male Playback Singer | Soham Chakrabarty – for ("In Dino") | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |
| Zee Cine Awards | 26 April 2008 | Best Track of the Year | "In Dino" | Nominated | [19] [20] [21] |

## Sequel

Its sequel titled Metro... In Dino was announced in 2022 with Basu and Pritam returning as director and music composer.
The sequel will star Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkana Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta in lead roles.
The film was scheduled to release on 29 March 2024, but was postponed to 29 November 2024.