Maa Review: Kajol, Ronit Roy’s Mythological Thriller Disappoints With Same Old Formula. Thak Gayi!
Maa starring Kajol, Ronit Roy, and others, will be released on June 27. Here's our detailed review on the film.
1.5 / 5
Horror-thrillers are having a moment, aren’t they? From Stree 2 to Chhorii 2, they are everywhere. And now, we’ve got another one titled Maa. It is a mythological thriller directed by Vishal Furia and stars Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, and others. The trailer caught my attention, and I was quite looking forward to the film. And now that I have watched, here’s what I felt. Read on!
Plot Of Maa
The film follows an innocent mom (Ambika) played by Kajol and her young daughter (Shweta) played by Kherin Sharma, going to their village. But it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as their path quickly takes a dark and sinister turn when they arrive at a cursed village with an old Daitya. The daughter becomes the target of the evil demonic legend. To save Shweta from the demonic curse and put an end to everything, Ambika gets ready to battle it out and does everything she can. But the Daitya isn’t easy to tackle, and so the mom receives the blessing and uses the great power of Goddess Kali to save her daughter. Will she be able to save her daughter from the terrible fate? Find out after watching it!
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Performances
Now, let’s talk about the acting. The performances were, to put it mildly, decent. And by “decent”, I mean the actors did as much as they possibly could with the material they were given. Kajol gave a nice try, but the impact I expected – you know, that gut-wrenching portrayal of a mother’s desperation? It just didn’t hit the mark. It didn’t resonate with me as strongly as I’d hoped. Ronit Roy followed a similar pattern. He was okay in the first half. However, it does get a bit better in the second half. But I can not forget about his disappointing Bengali accent. It was quite unbearable. As for the supporting cast, they did their job sufficiently. So, “decent” is truly the word I can write down.
Verdict: So Much Potential, So Little Done
Okay, can someone please take away the “How to Make a Horror Movie” guidebook from the filmmakers? Because Maa follows the same old pattern we’ve seen many times. It’s the usual. You know how someone’s told not to do something, and they do it anyway and get into trouble, and then the protagonist comes to save them. That exactly what happened here. See, it’s not an issue bringing up old patterns, but there’s a way to present it that still makes it interesting.
While watching this movie, I kept thinking of Chhorii and Stree, as they were just too much alike. Was it scary? Nah, not really. Maybe a few sudden loud noises, but the kind of fear that will make you jump or close your eyes? Zero.
Also Read: Sitaare Zameen Par Review: Aamir Khan’s Film Delivers A Powerful Message With Good Performances
Also, it was so funny how easy it was to guess what would happen! The special effects looked like they were from an old TV show from years ago. While there were some moments where the setting looked cool, it turned out to disappoint you later. Talking about the songs, they were totally forgettable. They did nothing to elevate the movie or the mood.
Now, let’s talk about the main issue, especially as a Bengali person; that’s not how Bengalis talk! Honestly, the way they spoke sounded so off that it made me roll my eyes constantly. It was really distracting and felt annoying at times. I mean, we can get simple and not exaggerated accents, right?
In the end, Maa had a really cool concept. But it didn’t hit the mark. The film is held back by all the old patterns, okay performances, disappointing special effects, boring music, and those really annoying accents. So, if you’re looking for something new, truly scary, or even just interesting in horror, Maa might leave you feeling let down. For the unversed, the film is releasing in theatres on June 27. Are you watching it?
First Published: June 27, 2025 9:00 AM
