Qala

Qala is interviewed after winning the Golden Vinyl. Journalists press her about a rumored brother, and she insists she does not have one. The exchange foreshadows the complicated family dynamics that will haunt her rise to fame.

In a flashback, Urmila gives birth to Qala while her stillborn twin brother dies. In a fit of rage, Urmila tries to smother the newborn Qala. This moment seeds a lifelong fear of loss and a controlling mother–daughter bond.

Urmila trains Qala in the craft of singing, but sternly cautions her not to become a courtesan. Discipline becomes the framework for Qala's ambition. The mother-daughter dynamic sets the terms for Qala's career.

Qala is haunted by visions of her dead brother accusing her of taking his place. A doctor warns her to rest, highlighting the strain of ambition on her psyche. The tension between success and self-preservation intensifies.

To punish perceived laziness, Urmila locks Qala out in the snow. She endures the cold, driven to practice and prove herself. The harsh method underscores the coercive power dynamics in their relationship.

At a crucial early performance, only a few attend and an orphan named Jagan steals the crowd's attention. Qala's nerves flare as she witnesses someone else commanding the stage. The setback foreshadows the competition she will face within her own family.

Urmila takes a liking to Jagan's music and brings him into the home to live with them. Qala feels overlooked and increasingly possessive, fueling a bitter rivalry between the two musicians under the same roof.

Renowned singer Sanyal dies, and it is revealed that Urmila seduced him to create an opportunity for Jagan to sing with him. The maneuver reveals the extent of Urmila's scheming to advance her chosen protégé. The family becomes entangled in a dangerous ambition.

To push Jagan's career further, Urmila tries to marry Qala off to a powerful man. Qala resists, insisting on following her own path rather than playing a traditional role for advancement. The conflict deepens the rift between mother and daughter.

Urmila hosts a party for influential people, but Qala feels invisible among the guests. Sanyal notices her presence and the two share a kiss, signaling a breakthrough in her public recognition. The night marks a turning point in her social ascent.

When Jagan becomes too sick to perform, Qala steps in and sings to the crowd, earning praise and widening her exposure. Urmila's ambitions appear to shift focus toward Qala's rising fame. This moment cements their complicated partnership.

Qala seduces Sumant Kumar to secure a chance to record, effectively displacing Jagan from the key opportunity. The move marks a moral crossroads as she pursues professional advancement at personal cost. Her story begins to pivot from mutual ambition to personal gain.

That night, Jagan speaks to Qala one last time before hanging himself in the forest. The following day she discovers his body, and Urmila is overwhelmed with heartbreak. The event crystallizes the consequences of the household's hard-edged ambitions.

A heated confrontation leaves Qala banished from Urmila's house. She travels to Calcutta to pursue the recording session on her own, stepping into the world with a more precarious footing. The distance from her mother intensifies both the risk and the reward of her career.

In Calcutta, Qala struggles through an 11th take and is forced to provide oral pleasure to Sumant for a last chance. Remembering Jagan's line that he always sang for himself, she pushes through and records. As fame begins to rise, Majrooh, the songwriter, grows close and advises her to end the Sumant arrangement, steering her toward a more authentic path.