Maa Movie Review: Watch or Skip?
A Mother`s Fierce Love
Maa is a mythological horror film that attempts to weave a modern tale of a mother`s protective instincts with the powerful folklore of Goddess Kali.
The Forbidden Village
Ambika (Kajol) and her husband Shubhankar live a peaceful life with their daughter Shweta, deliberately staying away from their ancestral village of Chandrapur.
A Fateful Return
After her husband`s sudden demise linked to the village, Ambika is lured back with her daughter to settle property matters, walking directly into a trap.
Mythology Meets Horror
The plot is rooted in the legend of the demon Raktabeej. A single drop of his blood spawns a monster that preys on the village`s young girls, including Shweta.
Kajol`s Powerful Performance
Kajol delivers a compelling performance as a fierce mother who will stop at nothing to save her child. Her intensity, especially in the climax, is a highlight.
Solid Supporting Cast
Ronit Roy shines as the village sarpanch with hidden motives. The rest of the cast, including Kherin Sharma as Shweta, deliver competent performances.
Direction and Pacing
Director Vishal Furia, known for Chhorii, struggles with pacing. The narrative is slow and fails to build the necessary atmospheric tension for a horror film.
A Tame Affair
For a horror movie, Maa lacks genuine scares. The monster is created with pedestrian VFX and fails to be menacing, reducing the overall fear factor.
Impactful Climax
The film finds some energy in its final moments as Ambika channels the goddess to fight evil. However, this powerful sequence comes too late to save the film.
Final Verdict: Skippable
Maa has a promising concept and a strong lead performance but is undone by a weak script, making it a tame affair that fails to live up to its potential.