Maa Movie Review

Story Overview

Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, is a mythological horror-thriller that premiered on 27 June 2025, marking Kajol’s first foray into the genre. The film is a spinoff set in the Devgn Universe, following Shaitaan (2024), and follows Ambika (Kajol), a grieving widow who travels with her daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma) to her late husband’s ancestral village of Chandrapur. Upon arrival, mysterious disappearances of adolescent girls and an ancient demonic curse tied to a blood-daitya named Aamsaja emerge, threatening her daughter’s life. Ambika, in turn, becomes possessed by the benevolent power of the goddess Kali to confront evil.

Director & Creative Team

• Director: Vishal Furia brings folklore and horror together, attempting a bold mythological narrative built around maternal resilience.
• Written by: Saiwyn Quadras (story & screenplay) and Aamil Keeyan Khan and Ajit Jagtap (dialogues)—a team with past success in biographical dramas tackling mythology.
• Producers: Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, and Kumar Mangat Pathak under Devgn Films and Jio Studios.

Cast & Performance Highlights

• Kajol (Ambika) carries the film, anchoring it with grit, emotional vulnerability, and the evolution into a fierce protector. Critics widely appreciated her commanding presence.
• Kherin Sharma (Shweta) is effective as the inquisitive daughter, balancing innocence and fear.
• Ronit Roy (Joydev, the village sarpanch) delivers a grounded and supportive performance.
• Indraneil Sengupta (Shuvankar, the husband) features briefly but leaves a lingering presence in the story’s foundation.
• Supporting cast includes Rupkatha Chakraborty, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and others who add emotional texture though their arcs could have been deeper.

Themes & Mythological Elements

The film explores motherhood, female power, and ancient revenge through the lens of Bengali folklore. Ambika’s transformation into Kali symbolizes devotion and spiritual warfare against ancient evil. The cursed tree, Kali Puja rituals, and blood-demon mythology are delivered as narrative through folklore, though they tread familiar ground.

Visuals, Sound & Technical Craft

Maa is visually rich—vivid set design, saturated colors, temple sequences, and eerie landscapes enhance the supernatural mood.
VFX was a mixed bag: praised for creating mythic atmospherics, yet some CGI felt unpolished.
The soundscape supports both horror and emotion, though certain scenes lean too heavily on dramatic cues, disrupting subtlety.

Critical Response & Reception

Critics were divided.

• Filme Shilmy gave a glowing 4/5, calling it “rich and immersive” with standout performances.
• India Today (Sana Farzeen) applauded visual ambition and mythology but flagged predictability.
• Indian Express (Shubhra Gupta) and NDTV (Saibal Chatterjee) rated 2/5, citing bland writing and overuse of CGI.
• Lensmen Reviews criticized the film’s tone, calling it “loud” and “spoon-fed,” likening its approach to cliched tropes of female empowerment.
• Reddit feedback showed polarized opinions—from high praise for Kajol’s performance and horror atmosphere to derision over plausibility and pacing.

“An intense experience. Kajol was incredible… the myth elements were well done.”
“Very slow and basic story.”

Box Office & Audience Buzz

Maa saw a promising opening: ₹4.65 crore on Day 1, ₹6 crore on Days 2 and 3, and ₹2.25 crore on Day 4. A sharp Monday drop of 68% slightly tempered returns, but momentum remained positive due to word-of-mouth and praise for Kajol and VFX.
Indian audiences and social media users celebrated Kajol’s performance and the film’s mythological flair.

Final Verdict – Maa Movie Review

Rating: 3/5

Maa attempts a cinematic blend of myth, maternal strength, and horror. Kajol’s intense portrayal anchors the film emotionally, and the visual design is striking. Yet, the screenplay’s predictability, untapped emotional depth, and uneven technical execution hold it back from fully delivering on its mythological promise. Worth a one-time watch, especially for genre fans and viewers drawn to strong maternal narratives.

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