The Signature Movie Review: Anupam Kher’s, When A Promising Start Turns into a Tone-Deaf Drama

The Signature Movie Review opens with a heartfelt scenario: a man (Anupam Kher) using his last bit of savings to try to save his ailing wife. But does it truly resonate emotionally?

The Signature Movie Review Rating: 8.0/10(IMDB)

Cast: Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhary, Neena Kulkarni, Annu Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey

Directed by: Gajendra Ahire
Language: Hindi

Streaming on: Zee 5

Duration: 126 Minutes

It’s hard to believe that a story about a dying person and their loved one fighting to save them could fail to evoke any sadness over nearly two hours of screen time. Yet, The Signature manages to present such a narrative!

Before diving into this film featuring a remarkable cast including Neena Kulkarni, Ranvir Shorey, Mahima Chaudhary, Annu Kapoor, and the standout Anupam Kher, I must admit that I was quite taken by the trailer. It was well-crafted and piqued my curiosity about this poignant journey through the experience of impending loss.

Letting go is a challenging process, especially when it’s not just an emotional release but also requires the physical act of saying goodbye. The story revolves around a man who is determined to fight for his wife, who is alive but unresponsive on life support. The entire narrative unfolds during the agonizing wait he endures while caring for his beloved.

The Signature Movie Review : Script

The Signature begins with a heartfelt scenario: a man using his last bit of savings to try to save his ailing wife, who collapses just as they are about to embark on their dream of exploring the world together after retirement! However, what starts as a captivating setup quickly devolves into a confusing narrative. It feels like someone is rambling in a state of distress, unsure of where to go next. With every twist and turn, you can’t help but shout – Why?

And believe me, there are plenty of twists. It kicks off with the son opposing his father’s decision to spend every last penny on his mother, despite the grim reality of her condition. The exchanges between father and son lack any real conviction from either side. Then there’s Ranvir Shorey, who portrays another caregiver desperately trying to save his daughter. Out of the blue, the film shifts to critique the corporate practices in hospitals, highlighting how they exploit patients without any emotional regard. What’s even more exasperating is that this issue is introduced abruptly and then completely dropped. Perhaps it’s a result of uneven editing.

The Signature Movie Review : Star

Annu Kapoor takes on the role of the best friend, but he too is hindered by a weak script. Meanwhile, Mahima Chaudhary portrays a cancer patient, a role that had the potential to shine in this loosely structured screenplay, yet it ultimately feels like a missed chance. Even Ranvir Shorey might sense that the storyline is heading nowhere in the film.

The Signature Movie Review : Direction

Directed by Gajendra Ahire, the film presents several elements that are hard to overlook. From the very first scene, where Neena Kulkarni, portraying the wife, suddenly collapses, it captures attention. This incident occurs right outside an airport, with a crowd witnessing an elderly woman fall unconscious and an old man rushing to her aid. Yet, shockingly, not a single person steps forward to help; everyone remains in line as if instructed by the film crew to ignore the situation. It’s as if they were told, “Look away, let her fall!”

I grew up in a middle-class family in Uttar Pradesh, where English was never spoken at home. This becomes particularly poignant during critical moments. It’s emotionally jarring to see a father yelling at his son in English about why they should assist the woman, while a man in Lucknow rushes to a nurse, speaking in Hindi, yet insists on conveying the emergency in ENGLISH. Having just emerged from an ICU, where life and death hung in the balance, I can assure you that such scenarios are far from reality. While it may seem like a minor detail, it becomes significant when trying to connect with someone’s emotions or their sorrow. Language truly matters!

The Signature Movie Review : Trailer