Qala

Qala

Year: 2022

Runtime: 119 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Anvita Dutt

Echo Score: 83
DramaMusic

Haunted by her past, a talented singer with a rising career copes with the pressure of success, a mother’s disdain and the voices of doubt within her.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Qala yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Qala (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Qala (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

Set in the 1940s, the film portrays a female singer navigating a patriarchal and artistically vibrant Indian music scene. The era highlights traditional gender norms and the emergence of independent music careers as performers seek fame. It also reflects the fragility of public life during a time of social change in Bengal.

Location

Calcutta, Tanuku

The primary settings span Calcutta, a bustling cultural hub in 1940s Bengal known for its music scene and recording studios. Tanuku is referenced in a memory when Qala sends a vinyl there, hinting at family roots and distant origins.

🎶 Music hub 🏙 City 🕰 1940s

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:08

Main Characters – Qala (2022)

Meet the key characters of Qala (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Qala Manjushree (Triptii Dimri)

An ambitious aspiring singer who rises to fame while contending with a domineering mother and haunting memories of a stillborn brother. Her ascent involves moral compromises, including seduction to secure a recording, and she grapples with guilt and personal cost. The intense mother-daughter dynamic drives much of the film’s emotional core.

🎤 Protagonist 💃 Performer 💔 Guilt

Urmila Manjushree (Swastika Mukherjee)

Qala's domineering mother who pushes her daughter toward success while manipulating circumstances to secure her own family’s future. She orchestrates opportunities for Jagan by seducing Sanyal and frequently undermines Qala's independence. The relationship with Qala becomes increasingly strained as tragedy unfolds.

🧭 Ambition 💬 Control 🔥 Tension

Jagan Batwal (Babil Khan)

An exceptionally talented orphan brought into Urmila’s home, whose presence sparks rivalry with Qala. He falls ill and cannot sing, leading to a pivotal moment where Qala takes his place for a recording. Jagan’s death by hanging profoundly affects Qala and catalyzes the film’s emotional arc.

🧒 Orphan 🎶 Talent 🌧️ Tragedy

Sumant Kumar (Amit Sial)

A powerful patron who wields influence over recording opportunities. Qala seduces him to secure a chance to record, illustrating the coercive dynamics that can accompany artistic advancement. His presence embodies exploitation and the moral compromises faced by a rising star.

💎 Patron 💰 Power ⚖️ Exploitation

Chandan Lal Sanyal (Sameer Kochhar)

A renowned singer who becomes entangled in Urmila’s schemes to help Jagan. He is noticed by Qala at a party and shares a complicated, fleeting connection with her before his death shifts the story’s trajectory. His demise marks a turning point in Qala’s life and career.

🎶 Renowned Singer 🎭 Fame 💔 Tragedy

Doctor Banerjee (Abhishek Banerjee)

A physician who treats Qala’s mounting stress and visions, advising rest to protect her health. He appears as a stabilizing figure amid the emotional turmoil surrounding Qala’s rise to fame. His role anchors the film’s exploration of mental strain in a high-stakes career.

🩺 Doctor 🧠 Mental health 💬 Advisor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:08

Major Themes – Qala (2022)

Explore the central themes of Qala (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Ambition

Qala’s drive to become a celebrated singer drives the plot, pushing her to seize control of opportunities and push past obstacles. Her ambition is tempered by visions of her dead brother and the weight of family expectations. The pursuit of fame forces her to navigate moral compromises and personal costs. The theme shows how talent, hunger, and pressure intersect with family loyalties.

💔 Trauma

Qala is haunted by memories of a lost brother and a demanding mother, creating a persistent sense of guilt and internal conflict. Flashbacks of childhood punishments, snowbound isolation, and rivalries shape her psyche. The film ties personal trauma to her fragile mental health and volatile emotional state. The tragedy of Jagan’s fate deepens the emotional weight of the story.

🪙 Exploitation

The music industry is shown as a place where powerful patrons exploit young talent. Qala’s path to recording involves sexual and professional compromises, including seduction and negotiation with Sumant Kumar. The relationship with Sanyal and Urmila’s machinations highlight the moral gray areas behind fame. The tension culminates in a cycle of control, betrayal, and tragic consequences.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:08

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Tortured artist stories like Qala

Stories of gifted creators buckling under the pressure of their own talent.For viewers who liked the portrayal of artistic turmoil in Qala, this list features movies about gifted creators facing psychological collapse. Discover similar stories of musicians, painters, and performers struggling with the burdens of fame, ambition, and their inner darkness.

torturedatmosphericsombergrievinganxiousoppressive

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread follow a protagonist whose exceptional artistic talent becomes a source of internal and external conflict. The story arc typically involves a promising rise, mounting pressure—often from critical acclaim, personal relationships, or their own perfectionism—and a subsequent mental or emotional breakdown, leading to a tragic or melancholic conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their intense focus on the psychological cost of artistry. They share a heavy emotional weight, explore similar themes of mental health, and often feature atmospheric, melancholic tones that immerse the viewer in the protagonist's deteriorating state of mind.

Movies about toxic family legacies like Qala

Characters crushed by the weight of a toxic or tragic family history.If you were drawn to the intense mother-daughter dynamic in Qala, this collection features films centered on suffocating family relationships. Explore more stories about characters haunted by parental pressure, generational trauma, and the struggle to break free from a damaging legacy.

hauntingoppressivetraumaticanxioussombergrievingguilt-ridden

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a protagonist grappling with the long shadow of their family, particularly a domineering or emotionally abusive parent. Flashbacks often reveal past trauma that fuels present-day anxiety and guilt. The story builds steadily towards a climax where the protagonist confronts—or is ultimately defeated by—this inherited pain.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on family as a source of psychological oppression. They create a haunting, anxious mood through themes of guilt, duty, and unmet expectations. The pacing is typically deliberate, allowing the weight of the family history to build an oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere.

Unlock the Full Story of Qala

Don't stop at just watching — explore Qala in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Qala is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Qala Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Qala, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Qala Summary

Qala Timeline

Track the full timeline of Qala with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Qala Timeline

Qala Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Qala? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Qala Ending Explained

Qala Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Qala that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Qala Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Qala

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Qala: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Qala