Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 4: Anurag Basu’s much-anticipated ensemble film ‘Metro... In Dino’ finally hit the big screens today, but its initial response has been more restrained than expected. With only 18,500 tickets sold across major national multiplex chains for its opening day, trade analysts have termed the advance booking figures as underwhelming, especially for a film with such a celebrated cast and strong pre-release buzz.

Touted as a spiritual successor to Basu’s acclaimed 2007 film ‘Life in a Metro’, the latest project brings together an impressive cast, including Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, and Saswata Chatterjee. While the film has stirred curiosity for its urban narratives and tangled emotional arcs, its release faces stiff competition from the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ and several domestic holdovers like ‘F1’, ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, and ‘Maa’, which continue to pull in steady audiences.

According to trade portal Pinkvilla, the film is tracking towards a modest Rs 3 to 3.5 crore net collection on Day 1. Industry insiders had expected a stronger turnout, considering both the ensemble nature of the film and its expensive production scale. It is reported that ‘Metro... In Dino’ was originally sanctioned at a budget of Rs 65 crore, which eventually ballooned to Rs 85 crore following reshoots. With an additional Rs 15 crore spent on marketing and promotion, the total cost has touched nearly Rs 100 crore.

Fortunately for the makers, the film has already recovered approximately Rs 70 crore through non-theatrical avenues such as satellite, digital, and music rights. But with Rs 30 crore still at stake, the theatrical run becomes crucial. The film now needs to gross at least Rs 75 crore worldwide to ensure profitability and safeguard the financial interests of everyone involved.

Much now rests on audience reception and word-of-mouth over the weekend. In the past, Anurag Basu’s films have found their audience gradually, post-release, and the makers are hopeful that ‘Metro... In Dino’ will follow a similar trajectory. Whether the film can evoke the same emotional connection and critical acclaim as its predecessor remains to be seen. However, with a rich tapestry of characters and Basu’s signature storytelling style, the film still holds promise of a steady climb if viewer sentiments turn favourable.