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Music drama

Qala (2022): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Qala (2022) movie poster

Qala is a 2022 music drama directed by Anvita Dutt, starring Triptii Dimri as Qala Manjushree, Aadhya Jha and Swastika Mukherjee. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes. Its Echo Score is 83/100.

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Qala (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 59m (119 min)
Director
Anvita Dutt
Genres
Drama , Music
Original language
Hindi
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Qala About?

The premise of Qala without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

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.

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Cast & crew

Qala Cast & Characters

Triptii Dimri leads the cast as Qala Manjushree, with Aadhya Jha as 10 year old Qala and Swastika Mukherjee as Urmila Manjushree. Directed by Anvita Dutt; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Qala

· 9 more
From the director

More from Anvita Dutt

One more film directed by Anvita Dutt: Bulbbul.

Full filmography
Ratings

Qala Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (65).

83 /100

Qala Echo Score Breakdown

Qala delivers a richly textured cinematic experience, anchored by striking visual design and a resonant soundtrack, while its narrative pacing and structural cohesion vary in consistency. The film's direction and production values create an immersive period atmosphere, and the central performance conveys nuanced emotional conflict. However, the screenplay occasionally lapses into predictability, and some character arcs lack full development. Collectively, the strengths outweigh the flaws, offering a compelling film that invites repeat viewings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    Visually, the film excels through meticulous cinematography and detailed art direction that render each frame as a composed tableau. The colour grading and composition reinforce the thematic darkness, and the period set pieces are rendered with authenticity. Editing, though occasionally abrupt, largely sustains the film’s rhythm, resulting in a strong artistic execution.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    The central performances, particularly the lead, convey layered psychological tension through restrained gestures and vocal nuance. Supporting roles contribute credible relational dynamics, enhancing the emotional stakes. While certain secondary portrayals feel underexplored, the overall acting ensemble offers sufficient depth to sustain audience engagement with the protagonists’ inner turmoil.

  • Story & Flow 65

    The narrative tracks a young singer’s struggle for validation within a patriarchal industry, weaving motifs of jealousy and ambition. The plot unfolds with deliberate pacing, allowing atmospheric buildup, yet moments of sluggish progression and occasional predictability diminish narrative tension. Structural inconsistencies in the screenplay limit the story’s potential for sustained intrigue.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    The soundtrack, composed by a noted musician, integrates period-appropriate melodies that echo the characters' emotional arcs, while ambient sound design underscores the film’s somber mood. Visual styling—ranging from snowy landscapes to intimate interiors—maintains a cohesive aesthetic palette, reinforcing thematic resonance. Overall, the sensory elements coalesce to heighten immersion.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    Repeated viewings are encouraged by the film’s layered visual symbolism and an evocative score that reveal new nuances upon closer inspection. The emotional core, anchored in mother‑daughter dynamics, retains relevance beyond the initial experience. Despite a measured pace, the combination of artistic merit and resonant themes ensures lasting appeal for audiences willing to engage with its subtleties.

Plot

Qala Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Qala from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Set in the 1940s, Qala Manjushree Triptii Dimri is a drama about the fraught bond between an aspiring singer and her domineering mother, Urmila Swastika Mukherjee. The film opens with Qala celebrating a major milestone—the discovery of the Golden Vinyl—while a posse of journalists questions her about family ties, mentioning a brother she denies. Through a series of haunting flashbacks, we learn how her origin shapes everything that follows: Urmila, who was pregnant with twins, gives birth to Qala while her twin dies stillborn, and in a moment of rage she nearly smothers her daughter. Urmila becomes a stern music mentor, yet she also warns Qala away from stepping into a darker path as a courtesan.

Full summary

The whole story of Qala, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Qala Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Qala.

Official Trailer [Subtitled]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Qala?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the aspiring singer at the center of the story?

Details

Qala Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “ควาล่า” and “QALA/カラ”.

Also known as
  • ควาล่า
  • QALA/カラ
  • QALA/カラ
  • QALA カラ
  • 칼라
  • 卡拉的抉择
  • קאלה
  • Кала
  • Başla
  • 卡拉的抉擇

Seen Qala?

FAQ

Qala FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Qala, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Qala?

Qala runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).

When was Qala released?

Qala was released on November 24, 2022.

Who directed Qala?

Qala was directed by Anvita Dutt.

More films by Anvita Dutt

Who is in the cast of Qala?

Qala stars Triptii Dimri as Qala Manjushree, Aadhya Jha as 10 year old Qala and Swastika Mukherjee as Urmila Manjushree, among 13 credited actors.

Does Qala have a post-credit scene?

No. Qala has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Qala in?

The original language of Qala is Hindi.

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