It should rather be titled "Love life in a Metro" or more appropriate " Loveless Life in a Metro". Multiple stories, Multiple tracks and common problem is "Love', especially "illegitimate" or "imperfect" love. The approach is nothing new and result was a disaster in earlier films-Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Salaam E Ishq etc. But here the circumstances, the ambiance is treated with panache making audience relate to the stories and therefore it succeeds. The film is able to catch the pulse of the city quite well for example how monsoon plays a role in getting otherwise reluctant people take notice of others etc. is all quite vibrant. The pace is fast, crisp and handling is taut. The way the songs are used in the form of a rock band with source of songs shown on screen is all very innovative. Another success in films dealing with realistic themes is when they are shot well and here once again Cinematographer Bobby Singh scores. But overall the magic and charisma of Director Anurag Basu in his previous, the superbly crafted Gangster is missing here. First half itself completes the story. Therefore somehow the film is not able to sustain its momentum in the second half and that becomes rather predictable. All lead actors have performed well. Dharminder-Nafisa Ali's love story is under-developed. Shilpa Shetty came across as Ms. Goody two shoes, a custodian of morality and her husband Kaykay as MCP Monster size, so there is some mismatch evident in characterization. My observation- A Wife stylishly dress in designer Kurtis and frocks whose top executive husband travels by business class, pays an EMI of 40K per month for flat, will rarely travel by a bus or a local train. My take is it would have been okay if the film left open ended without resolving the individual crises. The way Irrfan-Konkana 's story resolved is complete bollywood and out of place. Even the way Kangana runs out of a car has more drama than reason. Overlooking all this, nevertheless, it is a sensible cinema though not great but thought-provoking, relevant, contemporary and above all refreshing.
Review of Life in a Metro
