The only thing that keeps you watching Gajendra Ahire's The Signature is the heartbreaking performance by Anupam Kher who anchors an otherwise loosely constructed film.
Nobody dreams of spending their twilight years in hospitals instead of ticking off destinations from their bucket list. But the harsh reality of old age, with its inevitable medical complications and financial strain, often takes over those dreams. This is the core of The Signature, a film about the crushing weight of caregiving in an age where hospital visits become the norm and freedom becomes an afterthought. Despite the heavy subject matter, the film fails to land the emotional punches it aims for, largely due to its weak story and scattered screenplay. What rescues it from being a complete miss is the soul-searing portrayal by Anupam Kher.
The plot is straightforward but emotionally loaded: Arvind Pathak (Kher), an ageing man, faces the agonizing decision of signing a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) form for his wife, Madhu (Neena Kulkarni), who has been in the ICU for over a week. Arvind is caught in a relentless pursuit of funds to prolong her life—pleading with his daughter, brother, NGOs, and even trying to sell his house. It’s a grim reflection of a capitalist healthcare system where saving lives often comes second to paying bills. Once a poet who penned the verses of his life, Arvind now finds himself having to sign away the life of his greatest inspiration, his wife.
While the film carries a potent premise, it falters due to its undercooked script. The emotional gravity is diluted by disjointed writing, leaving key relationships and storylines, such as Arvind’s strained ties with his son and brother, underexplored. The hospital scenes, which should evoke intense emotions, feel more like placeholders, lacking the cohesion to draw you fully into the tragedy unfolding. Even when the film attempts to deliver poignant messages—whether through a hopeful cancer patient’s monologue or a frustrated father's outburst about hospitals prioritizing money over lives—the scenes effective in messaging falls emotionally flat.
Anupam Kher’s performance still cuts through the shortcomings of this film! His portrayal of Arvind, a man shattered by grief and frustration, is devastating. Whether breaking down in the shower, letting out raw emotions in private moments, or lashing out in frustration, Kher embodies the turmoil of a man fighting not just for his wife’s life but for dignity in an ageist, indifferent society. His haggard face and weary demeanour carry more weight than the film's uneven narrative ever could, anchoring the audience’s emotions and making the story feel, at least momentarily, deeply personal. In their short stint, Annu Kapoor, Mahima Chaudhary and Ranveer Shoreybring whatever they can to their underwritten characters!
The Signature is an adaptation of the Marathi film Anumati by the same director, Gajendra Ahire, who is also a National Award-winning filmmaker. While laced with poetry and contemplation, it shows glimpses of brilliance in parts, but it struggles to weave those moments together into a cohesive whole of a story. There are scattered scenes and dialogues that tug at your heartstrings but the lack of narrative unity makes it challenging to stay fully invested. That said, the film does succeed in raising important questions about the commodification of healthcare, society’s apathy toward senior citizens, and the emotional toll on caregivers. While Arvind’s journey could have been more gut-wrenchingly impactful, the film ultimately becomes about more than just a husband's plight to save his wife's life; It speaks about his life, grief and the painful choice between holding on and letting go and Kher’s performance ensures that this choice resonates, even if the film itself falls short.
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