Legendary lyricist, filmmaker and poet Gulzar unveiled the poster of writer-director Raj R’s ‘8 A. M. Metro’ at his Bandra home. Starring Gulshan Devaiah and Saiyami Kher, the film is an emotional roller-coaster slated to release on May 19. The film is being distributed by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon Distribution.
Raj earlier directed the award-winning Telugu film Mallesham in 2019 and was associated with 2021 Malayalam film, Paka, which was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Gulzar Saab was elated to contribute 6 of his poems for the film. During the film’s poster launch, he expressed a warm sense of euphoria and mentioned how he felt a pinch at his heart, the first time he read the lovely script; a feeling that instantly inspired him to contribute passionately to the film.
Speaking about the film and Gulzar Saab’s contribution, Raj says, “It’s a story of two strangers who inadvertently bump into each other in the metro and strike up an unlikely friendship, in the process finding themselves and each other. I can’t thank Gulzar Saab enough for this magnanimous gesture and feel a deep sense of gratitude towards the legend that he is.”
Saiyami plays a 29-year-old housewife Iravati whose mundane life in Nanded is turned upside down when she has to rush to Hyderabad to tend to her pregnant sister who is confined to the bed. Fighting off recurring panic attacks, she turns to Gulshan’s Preetam, a banker with more to him than meets the eye, and the duo subsequently go on many journeys, both physical and metaphysical, finding solace in each other’s company.
“But there’s a catch because my character harbours a secret which can tear them apart and also what they believe in,” shares Gulshan, who was instantly intrigued by this deceptively simple story.
For Saiyami, it was the snatches of poetry that she writes and which Preetam comes to appreciate that was one of the attractions of the project. “Can you believe I’m mouthing poetry written by Gulzar Sahab!” the actress exclaims.
Apart from Gulzar’s poetry, the movie music, done by Mark K. Robin, features songs written by Kausar Munir, and sung by artists like Jubin Nautiyal, Jonita Gandhi, Javed Ali, Vishal Mishra, and the Nooran Sisters.
The film is slated to release on 19th May in cinemas across India.
