Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino isn’t your typical feminist narrative loaded with slogans and monologues. Instead, it quietly and powerfully reshapes the definition of feminism by showing us women navigating real-life complexities with courage, grace, and sometimes, deep pain. It’s in the silences, the long looks, and the small but powerful acts of choosing oneself where this film’s feminist voice truly resonates.
Watching the film feels like watching fragments of your own life play out onscreen—especially for women who’ve ever juggled relationships, career, family expectations, or self-doubt. Here’s how each character brings a different dimension of womanhood to life:
Peehu (Ahana Kumra)
A teenager exploring her sexual identity while being a peacekeeper between her estranged parents. Peehu represents quiet strength—the kind that continues to give, even while grappling with internal confusion. Her journey is one of empathy and emotional resilience.
Chumki (Sara Ali Khan)
A millennial woman caught between ambition and a toxic workplace. When she confronts her harasser, it becomes a moment of collective catharsis—especially for women who’ve been told to “keep quiet” for the sake of stability. Her defiance is fierce and necessary.
Shruti (Fatima Sana Shaikh)
A newlywed dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and a husband pursuing his musical dreams. Her emotional back-and-forth—the abortion, leaving, returning—shows that even the right decisions can come with heartbreak. Shruti is all of us who’ve ever questioned our choices, then stood by them anyway.
Jhunuk (Darshana Banik)
A widow who chooses to stay and care for her father-in-law rather than begin anew. Her quiet loyalty isn’t weakness—it’s a personal choice, made with intention. Feminism, here, is not about always leaving, but sometimes about staying, on your own terms.
Kajol (Konkona Sen Sharma)
A woman rediscovering her self-worth after being sidelined in her marriage. She begins by choosing family, but ends by choosing herself—rage, revenge, and all. Her arc is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is optional, and self-prioritization is powerful.
Shivani (Neena Gupta)
An older woman who has endured a cold marriage for years. One day, she books a ticket to her college reunion and walks out. No dramatic declarations, just a silent reclaiming of her life. For many women, that moment is a revolution.
Metro… In Dino doesn’t ask you to fit feminism into a mold. It sees every woman’s story—messy, unfinished, unresolved—as valid. Whether you’re a Peehu figuring yourself out, a Chumki refusing to be silenced, a Shruti making hard choices, or a Shivani just taking that long overdue trip—you’re acknowledged.
Anurag Basu has given us a rare cinematic tribute to the everyday Indian woman: flawed, bold, silent, furious, loving, tired—and powerful.
