8 AM Metro Movie Review: An immersive viewer deserves an actor who understands their characters’ dilemmas and pains and plays with each other’s energies. Gulshan and Saiyami both give it their all in this one.
8 AM Movie Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4/5
8 AM Movie Cast: Saiyami Kher, Gulshan Devaiah, Umesh Kamat, and ensemble
8 AM Movie Director: Raj Rachakonda
8 AM Movie Story: Iravati (Saiyami Kher), a typical Maharashtrian housewife and mother of two, meets Bengali poetry enthusiast Pritam (Gulshan Devaiah) on a subway ride she is hesitant to take. Pritam is married with two daughters. The metro partners have established themselves in their respective spaces and are not looking for love, romance, or support outside of their respective equations. Nonetheless, there is room for friendship that borders on companionship.
8 AM Movie Review
8 AM Metro alternates between passionate highs and painful lows on purpose. When most of us are dealing with mental health issues, we frequently say, “It’s all under control,” and try to move on. The thing is, it isn’t by any means. And it’s perfectly acceptable to seek assistance. Raj Rachakonda has tried to start a conversation about this in the 8 AM Metro. The poetry of Gulzar will coo your ears.
8 AM Metro is a film filled with literature and life lessons in this suffocated humdrum of life. It takes a subtle jab at the way society views mental health. When Iravati experiences a panic attack, she is told to “be strong” and “get over it.” Keep an eye out for the scene in which Ira tells Pritam about how her friends and family react when she becomes anxious. 8 AM Metro also addresses social anxiety, which many people experience but do not seek treatment for. She assists him with his social awkwardness in the same way that Pritam assisted Ira with her panic attacks. They will win your heart with their empathy for one another. These two are just like the rest of us.
8 AM Metro also handles the sensitive and beautiful subject of suicide. In one scene, Iravati and Pritam hang out near a lake where a sign warns against suicide. ‘Agar ye board nahi hota to mai aj yaha kood hi jata (If this board wasn’t here, I would’ve jumped in the pool today),’ Pritam jokes. While this will make you laugh, Iravati’s response will make you cry. “Lekin agar isse ek ki bhi jaan bach jaye, vo kaafi hai,” she says, “but if it saves even one life, it’s enough.” This starts a conversation about suicide.
Coffee that has been filtered. Her evasive demeanor, the way she recites Gulzar’s poetry, and the way she weighs each word are all soothing to watch. Meanwhile, Gulshan adds a charm to his character that no one else could. He is socially awkward and turns to books for solace. His character has a major twist at the end that will make you cry for him. Both actors bring a humane side to their roles, refocusing attention on the content.
Each dialogue has been beautifully written in a straightforward manner. They have added a touch of humour to balance out the tense moments. In the metro, there’s a guy who holds Zoom meetings and a young man who keeps falling asleep on another man’s shoulder. The film is littered with scenes that are typically found in a subway. The climax is a surprise that you won’t see coming.
