Director: Raj R
Cast: Gulshan Devaiah, Saiyami Kher, Umesh Kamat, Nimisha Nair
Where: At theatres near you
Rating: 3.5 stars
Directed by Raj Rachakonda or Raj R, who debuted with the critically-acclaimed Telugu film 'Mallesham' in 2019, '8 A.M. Metro' is a bitter-sweet tale of friendship and heartache between a man and a woman, beyond the realm of marriage and fidelity, where the two redeem and rediscover themselves and their purposes.
Aided with poignant verses by literary genius Gulzar, '8 A.M. Metro' tells the tale of Iravati (Saiyami Kher), a Nanded-based housewife who is petrified at the thought of travelling by train, owing to an unpleasant incident during her childhood, that has caused her irreparable trauma. On her husband (Umesh Kamat)'s insistence, she travels to Hyderabad to be by her sister Riya's (Nimisha Nair) side, an expecting mother, who is facing complications during her pregnancy and is seeking emotional support. Iravati musters up the courage and travels to the City of Pearls. When she reaches the hospital having paid a lumpsum amount for the rickshaw ride, her sister advises her to take the Metro, which will save her time and money. Reluctant at first, Iravati decides to pay heed to her sister's advice and takes the Metro, only to witness panic attacks at the sight or sound of the moving train. She is held by an unknown passenger Pritam (Gulshan Devaiah), a banker by profession, but a voracious reader by interest. His presence comforts her and soon the two warm up to each other, following copious servings of filter coffee and a shared love for poetry. But, what lies beyond this seemingly sweet encounter?
Inspired by the 1989 Telugu book 'Andamaina Jeevitham' (It's a Beautiful Life), authored by Malladi Venkata Krishnamurthy, '8 A.M. Metro', co-written by Shruti Bhatnagar, Lakshmi Priyanka and Asad Hussain, is exceptional storytelling that does not want to deploy shock or intimacy to depict the platonic nature of friendship and eventual romance between married individuals. Instead, it's that rare film which uses human connection beautifully to establish the intent and nature of what Iravati and Pritam share. As someone who enjoys filter coffee and books herself, watching the protagonists exchange anecdotes and insights from verses penned by literary geniuses or routine observations made while boarding their metro rides, are very relatable. The story makes a strong case of how can you find answers from absolute strangers, even when you're fortunate enough to have the support of family and friends. It also dares to question the society's disrespectful gaze towards man-woman equations, post marriage. It's particularly charming to watch how Pritam is mindful about boundaries and privacy, a concept that is seldom spoken about in pop-culture with such context. Never once do you guess that a moment of intimacy would follow as you see Iravati and Pritam come to terms with past incidents and confide into each other, without the fear of judgement.
As the poetry-loving docile housewife, Saiyami fuels Iravati with grace and resolve. Although her characterisation is glaringly similar to the roles she has played in 'Choked' and 'Faadu', you wish to root for Iravati's self-discovery. But, your heart aches for Pritam as you inch towards the climax. Who would've thought that Gulshan, who started off as a villain in 'Shaitaan' and 'Goliyon Ki Raas Leela: Ram Leela' could stir up the waterworks in this film. Without giving away spoilers, be warned that you'll need a few tissues.
Shot by Sunny Kurrapati, what I appreciate the most is how '8 A.M Metro' captures the city of Hyderabad, without making it appear touristy. This is a wise creative choice considering how Hindi cinema has constantly based such stories in Mumbai.
'8 A.M. Metro' leaves you emotional and stirred up. I certainly was.
