Cast: Anupam Kher, Neena Kulkarni, Ranvir Shorey, Annu Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, Mahima Chaudhary
Director: Gajendra Ahire
From Rajesh Khanna’s Avtaar to Amitabh Bachchan starrer Baghban, Bollywood has given us poignant and heartbreaking narratives of aged parents whose children turning their backs in the tough times taking us to an emotional roller-coaster.
Anupam Kher led The Signature touches this topic with its unique touch exploring the dynamics of love, loss and hope.
Talking about the plot, it starts at Lucknow Airport, where Arvind and Madhu Pathak (Anupam Kher and Neena Kulkarni) are super happy as they are going on a Europe trip and their children and grandchildren come to see-off them.
However, during check-in, Madhu collapses. She is admitted to the hospital and Anand and his family realize that she suffered a brain haemorrhage and is now been put on life support. While Madhu is in a coma with little hope of recovery, Anand goes all out to spend all his savings to make sure she gets all the treatment and stays on life support.
After a week or so, Anand’s son and doctors tell him to sign the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form because he struggles with finances. While he refuses to sign, he embarks on a journey to collect funds and explores every possible way to get money from friends and family members.
National Award-winning director Gajendra Vitthal Ahire, who stepped into the Hindi industry with the official remake of his own Marathi drama Anumati, featuring the late Vikram Gokhale, weaves a compelling and emotional story of ageing, friendship and determination to save your loved ones.
Talking about the performances, Anupam Kher is simply brilliant as he captures our attention right from the first frame. As an audience, you will embark with Anand’s journey and you will feel restless, helpless and hopeless devastatingly thanks to Kher’s impeccable portrayal, which has complexities and layers of emotions.
Mahima Chaudhary and Annu Kapoor provide apt support with their class acts while Ranvir Shorey makes an impact despite having a very brief role.
On the whole, The Signature deserves a watch for Kher and Ahire’s sheer brilliance.
Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)
The Signature is streaming on Zee5