On the right track
'Life in a Metro'
Cast: Shilpa Shetty, Konkona Sen Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Sharman Joshi, Kangna Ranaut
Direction: Anurag Basu
Rating: ***
Finally, a film that uses an ensemble cast the way it should be done, with each having his or her own space to grow and yet connecting at various points in the film. Truly, 'Life in a Metro', helmed by the otherwise edgy Anurag Basu ('Murder', 'Gangster') is a slice of life in a metro, more so Mumbai.
The characters are easily recognisable—the homemaker Shikha (Shilpa Shetty), whose marriage to philandering Ranjeet (Kay Kay Menon) has lost all meaning. She briefly finds solace in the stranger she meets every Saturday Akash (Shiney Ahuja), who has let life pass him by as he struggles to make it on stage. Then there is her sister Shruti (Konkona Sen Sharma) and her room mate Neha (Kangna Ranaut), one who is searching for love at 30 and the other caught up in a loveless relationship, and Rahul (Sharman Joshi) intelligent, ambitious, and unable to express his love for Neha. There is also Debu (Irrfan Khan) searching for the perfect partner on shaadi.com. All caught up in the relentless pace that comprises big city life.
The relationship that is awkward though not unbelievable is that of Shikha's old dance teacher Shivani (Nafisa Ali Sodhi), who lives in an old people's home. An old flame Amol (Dharmendra) comes back into her life and they find happiness together. It is her son's reaction to the news though that rings most true. Unconcerned about his mother all he is worried about is whether she has signed any property papers over to her friend.
As the many emotions in the many lives play out, as they all try to find that special someone even as they go about living mundane lives, there is a certain hope that the director works relentlessly and that's what continually absorbs you. You hope Ranjeet will understand Shikha, Neha will realise what she means to Rahul, Debu and Shruti will connect. It is the process that is engaging.
'Metro' may be touted as Shilpa's film given her new international status, and she turns in one of her better performances too, but the ones to watch for are Konkona and Irrfan as they go about their mismatched lives till reality dawns on one and then the other. Their getting together is accomplished in a hilarious sequence. Kay Kay Menon's slime-ball act is competent. Shiney, Kangana and Sharman are good too; Nafisa and Dharmendra are somewhat awkward though it's lovely to see the older Dharmendra acting romantic.
The tedious moments of the film are the songs, not because of their composition but because all four are filmed in the same way. Pritam, the music director, and two cronies lip-sync the songs like three fakirs while the film's characters battle their way through their crises.
And finally a word for Anurag Basu. There is no way you can get to Churchgate on a bus that is marked headed for Vihar Lake. Forgot your directions wot?
indumirani@gmail.com
