Rahul is a young man with dreams, working as a call centre executive in a BPO in Mumbai. He silently loves Neha, a smart young woman who has made it up the ranks in a very short time, due to her relationship with her boss, Ranjeet. In his 30s, Ranjeet is married to Shikha and has a six-year-old daughter. Shikha is well educated and a trained dancer. Ranjeet and Shikha decided that she should stay at home and take care of the house and their child. Their eight-year marriage has turned loveless and bitter. Neglected by an indifferent husband and bogged down by family chores, Shikha meets and is attracted to maverick Akash. Akash, searching for a job in Dubai, is a struggling theatre artist who is separated from his wife. Akash and Shikha's relationship starts as friendship as they start seeing each other regularly. It almost blossoms into romance, until Shikha feels guilty and cannot cross the limits that she has fervently guarded for years. Amol is a 70-year-old man who has returned from the U.S. to India after 40 years to spend his last few years with his first love, Shivani, who is also Shikha's former dance teacher. Shikha's sister and Neha's roommate Shruti works at Radio Mirchi as a producer. She is 28 and desperate to get married. She meets Monty through a matrimonial site, but she is unimpressed by the straightforward and socially inept Monty. While Monty likes her and is ready to marry her, she declines when she finds him ogling her. She is, however, dreamy-eyed about her RJ, Rishi. Her boss hooks her up with Rishi, and her relationship with him blossoms. Rahul has a novel strategy to rise up the ladder of success. He provides his flat to his superiors at the office, where they can safely bring their mistresses, girlfriends or prostitutes, in return for recommendations for his promotion. Ranjeet uses the flat to meet Neha. Amidst one of their escapades in Rahul's flat, Neha asks Ranjeet about their future, which leads to an argument. He insults her and leaves. Indignant, she attempts suicide. Rahul finds her lying unconscious and saves her. He brings her back to his house, which brings them closer. Shruti is heartbroken when she discovers that Rishi is gay. She leaves the job and gets a new one where she again meets Monty. Slowly, they become friends. Meanwhile, Shruti learns about Ranjeet and Neha. Ranjeet panics and confesses to Shikha of his two-year affair with Neha. An already guilt-stricken Shikha cannot hold it in any longer and tells him about her emotional relationship with Akash. Shocked and angry, Ranjeet decides to leave his wife. Amol and Shivani start a live-in relationship. But one day, Shivani dies. Amol regrets the decision to leave Shivani 40 years back for career and a better life, stressing the importance of love to Shikha and Shruti. Shruti realizes that she loves Monty and tells him so just as he is about to go for his wedding. Meanwhile, Akash decides to leave for Dubai and writes to Shikha to join him. On the other hand, Rahul is disillusioned with the way the metro has treated him, so decides to resign and leave the city by train. When Ranjeet tells Neha about this, she realizes that Rahul really loves her, and follows him to the train station. Ranjeet returns to Shikha, who is just about to leave for the station to see Akash. Neha chases Rahul. Monty chases Shruti. Shikha comes to the train station but not to accompany Akash. She tells him that she will miss him and wishes him all the best. While the credits roll, Amol is shown sitting on the train station, Akash is still roaming the streets of Mumbai, chancing past Shikha and Ranjeet who are in a happier marriage, Rahul is living happily with Neha and his flat, and Shruti and Monty are also happily married, and have a daughter.
Life in a... Metro was the 26th highest grossing Bollywood film of 2007, grossing. It became a semi-hit at the box office, despite taking a below average opening.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released on 21 August 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 aka 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.
