Autograph

Shubhabrata, an ambitious but inexperienced filmmaker, sets out to remake Satyajit Ray's Nayak with contemporary twists. He relocates key moments, replacing the train journey with an airplane and extending the ending to suit his vision. The project is framed as his big break, driven by a desire for success more than flawless craft.

Shubhabrata's attempts to recruit Arun Chatterjee as the hero are repeatedly rejected. Arun's circle, including Ashish and Partha, dismiss the filmmaker's ideas as vanity. The early meetings set up the rivalry at the heart of the tale.

A televised public put-down from producer Manoj Sarkar stings Arun’s ego and convinces him to prove himself. He resolves to churn out a hit film single-handedly, after learning about Shubhabrata's script and inviting the young director to be involved. The moment shifts the power balance toward self-reliance over studio gatekeepers.

Impressed by Shubhabrata's passion, Manoj Sarkar agrees to finance the film, take the lead role himself, and oversee production. He overrides Ashish and Partha's objections, turning the project into a personal challenge to Arun's legitimacy. Shubhabrata begins to see his dream taking real shape.

Shubhabrata searches among actresses for the lead and selects Srinandita, his live-in girlfriend, an actress with a background in translated European theatre. After initial reservations, Srin responds to the role and agrees to participate. This personal casting deepens the bonds that will later complicate the project.

Manoj learns of the film's launch and approaches Shubhabrata with a conditional offer: if Arun later pulls out or the project stumbles, Manoj will lend a hand to salvage it. Shubhabrata dismisses the interference, confident in his own control of the project.

As shooting progresses, Shubhabrata encourages a growing bond between Arun and Srin to deepen authenticity for the film. Arun, buoyed by the attention, begins to gain confidence but also shows signs of arrogance. The line between onscreen relationships and real-life ties begins to blur.

The film's own narrative unfolds in parallel as Arun's friendship with Srin deepens into confidante territory. Srin becomes more than an actress on set, and her involvement shapes the film's emotional core. Shubhabrata watches this real-life dynamic with mixed excitement and anxiety.

On the last day of shooting, Arun, drunk, invades Shubhabrata and Srin's apartment and confesses to having used an aspiring actress on the casting couch. Srin consoles him, recognizing his guilt as a sign of repentance. The confession is recorded inadvertently on Srin's handycam as she rehearses Antigone.

When Shubhabrata learns of the recording, he sees a publicity goldmine and plans to publish it. Srin is aghast and strongly dissuades him, extracting a promise that he will refrain from releasing the clip. The moral line between art and exploitation becomes a central tension.

Despite Srin's pleas, Shubhabrata steals the clip and passes it to a TV news channel. Srin discovers the betrayal and leaves him, seeking a future as a drama teacher away from the city. The trust fracture marks the film's moral collapse.

The channel begins replaying the clip, and Arun, upon seeing it, feels betrayed by both Shubhabrata and Srin. Srin tries to explain by phone, but she disconnects when he refuses to believe her innocence. Ashish unsuccessfully urges legal action, leaving Arun to confront the deeper betrayals.

Arun confronts Shubhabrata, learns Srin's departure and her innocence, and decides to cancel the film. He warns Shubhabrata that he will use his influence to end his career if he tries anything again. The project collapses, leaving the future unresolved.

Even as Shubhabrata longs for Srin, he is seen arranging an appointment with Manoj. The outcome of their meeting is left unresolved, offering a partially open ending that suggests future consequences for his ambition. The final image centers on ambition, remorse, and the price of art.