Maa Review: Decent watch for those who enjoy mythology blended with horror
Maa Movie Rating: 3 Stars
Watched Maa movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Kajol, Indraneil Sengupta, Ronit Roy and Kherin Sharma
Director: Vishal Furia
Release Date: 27th June 2025 in cinemas
Story: The film opens in Chandrapur, West Bengal during Kali Puja with the chilling sacrifice of a newborn girl in the jungle. Forty years later, her twin brother Shubhankar (Indraneil Sengupta) lives in the city with his wife Ambika (Kajol) and their daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma) far removed from his eerie birthplace.
One day, Shubankar receives the news of his father’s death, and he returns to his hometown. Since there’s nobody else from his family alive, Shuvankar tells friend Joydev (Ronit Bose Roy) that he’d like to sell his ancestral home. While driving back home the same night, Shuvankar is killed under mysterious circumstances. His death is assumed to be an accident.
Some months later, Joydev invites Ambika as a real estate broker has shown interest in the ancestral home. Since it was Shuvankar’s last wish to get the sale done, Ambika decides to head to Chandarpur to do the needful. Shweta also joins her as she doesn’t want to be left alone. She learns that girls are abducted on attaining puberty and they return to their homes after a few days, but they then stop getting their periods. As bad luck would have it, Shweta gets her periods while they are in Chandarpur. Like the other girls, Shweta is also abducted, in the name of tradition. But Ambika takes it upon herself to save her daughter. Who is behind the abductions? What is the aim of kidnapping girls when they attain puberty?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Story
4. Climax
5. Background Music
Negatives
1. Length
2. Uneven Screenplay
3. Direction
4. 1st half
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in cinemas in my free time as liked the trailer and after so many days a proper horror film released. It is from the world of Shaitaan universe and shows the lengths to which a mother goes to protect her child from supernatural powers.
Maa story is praiseworthy. It grabs you with its exciting story based on folklore. It feels fresh yet rooted in tradition. While the emotional story of a mother’s love and her determination to go to any lengths for her daughter may seem routine, there are a few moments in Maa that stand out. The film also explores a few elements related to myths and legends, adding an interesting layer to the narrative. Moreover, we have seen horror films and horror comedies while this one stands out as it’s a mythological horror flick. This makes it a one-of-a-kind film. The film blends mythology and horror, drawing inspiration from the legend of Goddess Kali and Raktabeej where a single drop of blood gives rise to an unspeakable evil that finds its home in Chandarpur. A dark, derelict haveli, scattered ruins, and haunting forests create an atmospheric backdrop, and cinematographer Pushkar Singh succeeds in building an eerie visual tone. The film’s central conflict faith vs evil plays out in a gripping narrative where mythology and belief clash with dark forces in a modern-day setting. Visually, movie is stunning. The cinematography captures the haunting beauty of rural India crumbling temples, misty forests, oil lamps flickering in the night making Chandrapur feel like a living, breathing organism. The music beautifully supports the film’s tone and mood. Songs like ‘Kaali Shakti’ and ‘Humnava’ arrive at the right moments and enhance the narrative. Kajol is undoubtedly the soul of the film and steals the show with her commanding performance. Others are also good in their roles. Vishal Furia’s direction is confident and poignant, and this one is better from his previous film Chhorri 2.
The first half, in particular, is slow and tedious. The lethargic pace of the narrative further drains the audience’s interest. Even though there are some captivating sequences in the second half, the lag in between them damages the film’s flow. At times, it’s unclear why certain scenes are included in the narrative. While the emotional core of the film is strong, the dialogues, especially for Kajol’s character as a mother, could have been more impactful. This is one area where the film slightly falters. Lastly, the connection to Shaitaan feels weak. It’s hard to care about that storyline. Had Shaitaan been linked throughout the film, it could have been much better.
Overall, movie is a decent watch for those who enjoy mythology blended with horror. With its unique concept, strong performances, and intense emotional arc, it delivers both thrills and spiritual depth. It boasts strong production quality, and a story tied to Indian roots. While the premise holds promise, the storyline becomes predictable in parts, and certain plot points will feel familiar to seasoned horror viewers. My view on this movie Recommended.
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