‘Maa’ Review: A Mother’s Roar That Barely Echoes in This Confused Horror-Mythology Tale

Maa- In Theatres

Rating- 2/5 stars

Cast: Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indranil Sengupta, Kherin Sharma, Jitin Gulati & more

Directed By: Vishal Furia

Produced By: Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, Jio Studios and co-produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak.

Sometimes, a film promises a storm but barely manages a drizzle. Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, is one such film. With themes rooted in maternal strength, Indian mythology, and supernatural terror, this Kajol-starrer had all the ingredients for an emotionally powerful and chilling horror ride. But what unfolds is a tangled mess of underwhelming execution, flat performances, and a story that forgets what it was trying to say midway.

The film begins with a spine-chilling sacrifice of a young girl in Chandrapur, a small village haunted by a terrifying legend. This cold open feels promising. A few moments later, we are thrown 40 years ahead in time, to a peaceful family setting where Ambika (Kajol) lives happily with her husband Shubhankar (Indraneil Sengupta) and daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma). Life is good, except for one thing, they absolutely avoid going back to Chandrapur, Shubhankar's native village. But when his father passes away, duty calls. Shubhankar goes… and dies mysteriously.

After three months, Ambika returns to the village with her daughter, nudged by Joydev (Ronit Roy) to sell their ancestral home. But things start to spiral. Strange occurrences, a hidden past, and an ancient myth surrounding Goddess Kali and the demon Raktabija begin to surface. The stage is set for horror. But the scares never arrive.

Myth Meets Mayhem (But Not in a Good Way)

The idea of connecting folklore, especially the tale of Raktabija, where every drop of his blood births a new monster, is a powerful one. It gives Maa a unique texture and cultural weight. But the treatment is messy. Instead of a gripping myth-horror tale, what we get is a slow-burning story that keeps dragging without building any real tension. The first half moves at a snail's pace and the second half, despite trying to raise the stakes, feels scattered and confusing.

What's worse, the film forgets to scare. For a genre that demands suspense, atmosphere, and surprise, Maa simply doesn't deliver. The supernatural entity, which could have been a bone-chilling figure, ends up looking like a half-done CGI creature. It's more laughable than frightening and that's a problem in a horror film.

Packaging Problem: The Plot That Forgot Itself

A glaring flaw in Maa is its own confusion with its plot. In one scene, Ambika appears completely clueless about the village's dark past. But in the second half, we find out she actually knew a lot more than she let on. This inconsistency throws the whole narrative off track. The film keeps trying to feed us twists, but they feel forced and disconnected, like pieces of different puzzles jammed together.

Also, let's talk about the climax- a point that should have been emotionally explosive. But when it arrives, it's rushed, and even Kajol's transformation into the fierce "Maa" feels more like a costume change than a spiritual awakening.

Performances: A Mixed Bag

Kajol, known for her powerhouse presence, brings her usual energy, but this time, it feels hollow. She plays Ambika with strength, but not enough emotional layering. Her grief after losing her husband? Barely felt. Her desperation as a mother? Shown, but not experienced. Only in a few scenes with her on-screen daughter, played by the promising Kherin Sharma, does the connection feel genuine. Their bond is the only warm thread in an otherwise cold film.

Ronit Roy tries something different, and his character holds intrigue. In fact, most characters seem to have picked up their "Bengali" from exaggerated zones with overpronounced accents. Indraneil Sengupta, in his brief screen time, leaves a better impression than many others who get longer arcs. Jitin Gulati is completely wasted, while Rupkatha Chakraborty shows potential in her limited screen time.

Direction & Vision: Where Did It Go?

Director Vishal Furia, who earlier gave us Chhorii, seems to be repeating a pattern, strong ideas, but poor execution. The visuals are one of the few high points, the use of shadows, haunted village settings, and dark tones are captivating at times. Some frames look straight out of a gothic graphic novel. But unfortunately, you can't hang an entire film on just good-looking shots.

There's a social and feminist layer hidden within Maa, about rituals, sacrifice, and a mother's rage. But it never breaks through. It's buried under unnecessary melodrama, forced songs (yes, there's one even in the climax), and a structure that can't decide if it wants to be emotional, terrifying, or mythological.

Final Verdict

Maa tries to be many things: a horror tale, a mythological reimagining, and a mother's emotional journey. But in trying to do it all, it forgets to do any of it well. It had the potential to be a deeply unsettling and emotional story of a mother turning into a goddess to save her child. But the impact is lost in its confused storytelling, underwhelming scares, and overcooked drama.

Watch it only if you're a Kajol fan or curious about how not to blend horror with mythology.