The Signature Movie Review: Anupam Kher’s Emotional Miss – A Film That Leaves You Numb

Anupam Kher and Mahima Chaudhary starrer "The Signature" falls short of its emotional potential despite a promising premise.

A Familiar Story with Unfulfilled Depth

The Signature, a Hindi adaptation of the 2013 Marathi film Anumati, attempts to portray the struggles of an average working-class person caught in the unforgiving web of modern healthcare. Anupam Kher plays the role of Arvind Pathak, a middle-class retiree whose peaceful life is turned upside down when his beloved wife, Madhu (Neena Kulkarni), suffers a brain hemorrhage.

The film dives into the heart-wrenching reality faced by many in such situations—battling an indifferent medical system, chasing doctors, and trying to navigate the cold, transactional world of healthcare. The premise itself is rich with emotional potential, offering the opportunity to create a story that resonates with the audience on a deeply human level.

However, The Signature struggles to make a lasting impact.

A Lackluster Execution

Anupam Kher’s portrayal of a helpless elderly man feels reminiscent of his role in Saaransh (1984), where he brilliantly captured the grief and frustration of a father who lost his son. Unfortunately, The Signature doesn’t reach the same emotional depth.

While Kher delivers a sincere performance, the writing doesn’t support the complexity of his character or the gravity of his situation. The screenplay feels simplistic, and the situations Arvind encounters lack the emotional weight needed to fully engage the audience. His repeated pleas for help, which should evoke empathy and sadness, instead feel formulaic and devoid of real emotion.

The supporting cast, including Mahima Chaudhary and Neena Kulkarni, do their best with the material at hand, but their characters too suffer from the film’s uninspired storytelling.

Where It Could Have Shined

The film had the chance to offer a profound commentary on the challenges faced by the elderly in today’s fast-paced world, especially when it comes to dealing with a healthcare system that often prioritizes profit over compassion. This narrative, when handled with care and attention, could have struck a deep chord with viewers who have experienced similar struggles.

Yet, The Signature misses the mark. It doesn't offer the depth or nuance that a story like this demands. The characters feel underdeveloped, and the emotional journey never fully materializes, leaving the audience detached.

A Disappointment for Hindi Cinema

Hindi cinema is at a point where it desperately needs to reflect on the kind of stories it is telling and how they are being told. The Signature is a perfect example of a film that, on paper, had everything going for it—a stellar cast, a powerful premise, and a chance to move the audience. But in execution, it fails to connect emotionally, leaving viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential.

The Signature could have been a heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, and the everyday heroism of the common man. Instead, it ends up being a film that feels emotionally flat and uninspired. Despite Anupam Kher’s best efforts, the film leaves you with a lingering question: When will Hindi cinema start giving its audience the depth and complexity they deserve?

Though the film touches upon themes that are universally relatable, it fails to leave a lasting emotional impression. In the end, you walk away from The Signature with a sense of indifference—when you should have been leaving the theater with tears in your eyes.