How often do you come across a good remake of a film? The Signature, directed by Gajendra Ahire, is the heartfelt tale of a man desperately looking for ways to keep his wife alive. It would seem like a love story, but there are many themes uncovered by the writer-director as the film progresses. The movie was released on October 4, 2024, on Zee5 Global, and as mentioned above, it is a remake of the director’s National Award-winning film, Anumati.
The Signature begins with Arvind Pathak, a retired middle-class librarian, getting set to make his maiden Europe tour with his wife Madhu. She sadly suffered a brain hemorrhage just before the trip and slipped into a coma she’s been in ever since. Arvind goes out of his way to find financial help for Madhu’s treatment when the doctor and his son suggest they remove her from life support. It is the struggle of accumulating debt that makes Arvind vulnerable yet resilient. Arvind also struggles to deal with aging related issues as both he and his wife are senior citizens. Did Madhu recover? What did Arvind do to gather money for his wife’s treatment? Who decides to help him in the time of adversity?
The most impactful aspect of the film has to be the emotions and the dialogue. The director, Gajendra Ahire, evokes the right intensity of feelings during the crucial scenes in a beautiful manner, and it would be hard not to break down into tears. “The Signature” might come across as slightly over the top in the beginning, but as the story progresses, the narrative grips you into the world created for Arvind Pathak. His pain and love for his wife are palpable.
The Signature paints a picture of men and women of a certain age who are not considered ‘viable’, which is distressing as the film points out that they have the right to live. The surroundings around us are not designed to deal with the issues concerning elderly citizens. There are concessions and discounts on travel, but when it comes to real problems such as healthcare and proper nursing, many of them are considered a burden, which is a sad reality. The writing brings out these aspects with the right amount of sensitivity. The movie does have a disjointed screenplay, as the scenes do not come across as seamless. There is a subplot involving Ranvir Shorey, which comes and goes. There is another subplot about Arvind’s friendship with his friend Prabhakar, which comes out of nowhere. However, this subplot has significance as the movie advances and shows how sometimes friends are more sensitive to matters than family. Arvind’s ancestral family angle is also unnecessary in the overall narrative, as the writer-director Gajendra Ahire drags it out further by pointing out that the lead is struggling to find financial aid for his wife’s treatment. This subplot slightly stretches the film on the screenplay level, but the director gets the emotions right.
The dialogue of The Signature is the highlight, as it is written with a lot of heart. Keeping in mind the subject matter of the film, it could have taken a preachy turn, but that did not happen. The dialogue stays with you, and it has an impact on the viewers watching the film. The subplot about Arvind and his long-time friend Ambu is of great importance in the narrative, but the writer-director could not seamlessly blend it into the plot. There is a lot to uncover about both the characters as they reminisce about their past, but the overall tone of the movie suddenly shifts once this narrative is introduced. The pain of letting go of a loved one and moving on in life—these themes are explored well, but there is something off about how these subjects were included in the screenplay. The structure of the screenplay could be questioned, as the intent of the writer-director seems right. The direction also feels unappealing in many parts of the film. Even though the film is laced with terrific emotions and performances, it is the basic direction that puts “The Signature” on the back foot. There are some scenes, especially the one where Arvind wants to discuss the possibility of claiming the insurance policy, that are a wreck. It is only Anupam Kher and Annu Kapoor’s acting that somehow rescued things.
The Signature, however, does a good job of conveying how a homemaker sacrifices a lot of herself for the sake of her husband and children. Arvind’s character acknowledges his wife’s contribution to his life and is grateful for everything she does. It is rare to come across a character such as him in the Hindi cinema circuit. Kudos to the writing of the film that finally discusses how housewives prioritize their partner and children over themselves. Thankfully, this aspect is not glorified but presented as a societal flaw. The film does a good job of giving the audience a world view of how old age is stressful, especially without a companion by their side. The makers bring up old friendships in a simple manner, and thankfully the writer-director does not spoon-feed the audience with flashbacks. Some stories shared by the characters in the film could be left to audiences to interpret in their manner.
The highlight of The Signature is the performances of all the actors. The director nailed it by casting some brilliant actors for the sensitive portrayal of characters. Anupam Kher as Arvind Pathak is the heart and soul of the film. Even if the story and direction might falter, Anupam Kher’s portrayal of a desperate man never hits a wrong note. His pain, anguish, and impatience could be felt in the gut. It is good to know characters are being written for elderly actors. The OTT space has revolutionized such storytelling. Mahima Chaudhary is brilliant as Ambika, Arvind’s old colleague from work. Even though her character is introduced awkwardly, a lot of love and loss is shared between them. There is a sense of calmness that her character brings to the chaotic life Arvind had been leading for some time. Her performance is good and leaves a lasting impression. Annu Kapoor’s character of Prabhakar could have had some layers and a back story, just like the friendship shared by Arvind and Ambika. Arvind’s friendship with him is also introduced suddenly, which feels out of place. However, Annu Kapoor’s performance is consistent from the start till the end. He is the kind of friend one needs in your thick and thin.
Overall, The Signature is an above-average film that has some heartfelt performances, especially by the lead actor.
