Metro In Dino Movie Review: Anurag Basu’s Poetic Storytelling Returns with Heart

I’d been eagerly waiting for Metro In Dino to drop on OTT ever since its theatrical run, because for me, Life in a Metro isn’t just another film, it’s an emotion. It’s one of those movies that captured the pulse of city life with such honesty that it stayed with me long after the credits rolled. So when Anurag Basu announced a spiritual successor, my expectations were sky-high, and my curiosity even higher. The wait felt worth it because this film, in its own way, carries the same warmth, heartbreak, and hope that made the first one unforgettable. 

And finally, when it was released on Netflix, I couldn’t be happier. I got to sit back, relive that familiar Basu storytelling magic, and experience a whole new set of characters and their tangled lives. Watching Metro In Dino felt like slipping back into a familiar rhythm this time with new faces, fresh stories, and emotions that feel just as raw and relatable. It doesn’t just tell stories; it holds up a mirror to urban life in all its chaos and quiet beauty. It’s warm, heartfelt, and every bit the slice-of-life film I was hoping it would be.

The Story: Five Cities, Countless Emotions

Metro In Dino doesn’t follow a straight path; instead, it unravels like a mosaic of intertwined lives, where every city breathes a different emotion.. Much like its predecessor, Metro In Dino is a patchwork quilt of lives, woven together by the shared theme of love and survival in cities that never slow down. It shifts between Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, creating a mosaic of urban life where every corner hides a story worth telling.

In Mumbai, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sara Ali Khan portray a couple caught between ambition and love, their relationship passionate yet fragile. Delhi brings a grounded, bittersweet slice of marriage with Pankaj Tripathi and Konkona Sen Sharma, messy, imperfect, but quietly profound. Kolkata offers the most achingly true thread in Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh’s story, a love full of passion but constantly bruised by reality. 

And in the quieter lanes of Pune and the fast-paced madness of Bengaluru, the film sprinkles in smaller arcs of fleeting connections, silent heartbreaks, and moments that may seem ordinary but carry extraordinary depth. They don’t dominate the screen, but they stitch the narrative together, reminding us that no matter where you are, the struggles of love and companionship are universal.

Performances That Feel Lived-In

What makes Metro In Dino click isn’t just the stories, it’s the people breathing life into them. Pankaj Tripathi and Konkona Sen Sharma are, unsurprisingly, flawless. Their chemistry isn’t loud or performative; it’s authentic. Every silence, every half-smile, every argument feels earned. They embody a relationship where love has aged into something quieter, rawer, and deeply human.

Aditya Roy Kapur, often boxed into the brooding-romantic space, surprises here with a performance that balances charm with vulnerability. Opposite him, Sara Ali Khan delivers one of her most grounded turns yet, stripped of gloss; she makes her character’s tug-of-war between love and independence resonate.

But it’s Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh who leave the deepest mark. Their chemistry is electric yet tinged with melancholy, carrying the weight of a love destined to unravel. Watching them feels like witnessing something fragile and beautifully fleeting, but bound to break.

The Music: Pritam Still Owns Our Hearts

No Anurag Basu film feels complete without Pritam, and Metro In Dino proves once again why their partnership is timeless. Just like Life in a Metro, where the songs became the soul of the story, here too the music doesn’t just play in the background; it speaks, feels, and breathes with the characters. Every song feels like an extension of the emotions on screen, slipping in at just the right moments to heighten the drama. It’s not just music, it’s the pulse of the film, guiding the audience through every high and low.

The nostalgia of In Dino (Revisited) tugs at old memories, but it’s the fresh tracks that keep the film alive in today’s world. Out of all, my personal favorite is Zamana Lage. There’s something raw and haunting about it that lingers long after the movie ends, almost like the city itself humming in your ears. While many songs from the album are ruling playlists, Zamana Lage is the one I keep going back to. It’s beautifully written, deeply felt, and honestly, it captures the mood of the film perfectly.

What Works & What Doesn’t

What really works in Metro In Dino is how naturally it captures the pulse of urban life. The interwoven stories touch on love, heartbreak, loneliness, and hope in a way that feels deeply relatable. Anurag Basu’s knack for blending humor with raw emotions keeps the film moving smoothly. You laugh, you sigh, and sometimes pause to reflect. The cast delivers lived-in, authentic performances, while Pritam’s music (with Zamana Lage being my personal favorite) adds emotional depth that lingers. The cinematography also deserves credit for making the city feel alive, both chaotic and comforting at once.

But it’s not flawless. Some of the stories feel rushed, almost like they needed more time to fully breathe. At times, the film juggles so many characters that you wish certain arcs had been explored deeper. And while the emotional beats mostly land, there are moments where the writing hesitates to take risks, not quite reaching the boldness of Life in a Metro. Still, the heart of the film shines through its warm, relatable, and filled with memorable moments to make you forgive the hiccups.

Final Thoughts

Metro In Dino isn’t flawless, but it carries the warmth and soul that made me love Life in a Metro. Watching it on Netflix felt comforting, like revisiting familiar lives filled with love, heartbreak, and second chances. Affairs and infidelity appear in the story, but the film doesn’t justify them—it simply shows that people are complex and their feelings don’t always follow rules. A quiet, human film that stays with you long after you watch it.

Also, if you’re into grounded film thoughts, underrated thriller picks, or just plain honest recommendations, I’m over on Instagram: @bingewatch_perspective. That’s where I post quick recaps, hot takes, and those offbeat gems you might’ve missed. 

And if, like me, you love exploring different genres with the same emotional depth, you should definitely check out my last blog on 3 Horror Thrillers You Need to Watch in 2025. Those films pack just as much intensity, only in a darker way.

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