When a child is threatened, a mother's fierce form emerges—a theme Bollywood has portrayed many times. Films like 'Mom' starring Sridevi and 'Maatr' with Raveena Tandon presented revenge dramas centered on mothers.
- Movie Review: Maa (Mother)
- Actors: Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, Keerthana Sharma, Vibha Rani
- Director: Vishal Furia
- Genre: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Horror, Thriller
- Duration: 2 Hrs 15 Min
- Critic Rating: 2.5/5
Entertainment: Kajol's new film, 'Maa,' once again brings to the screen the sentiment that when a child is in danger, a mother transforms into a fierce avenger. We have seen in films like Sridevi's 'Mom' and Raveena Tandon's 'Maatr' how far a mother can go for her child, but Kajol's 'Maa' attempts to present this theme within a horror framework.
The film's story begins in Chandarpur, a fictional village in Kolkata, where there is a custom of sacrificing daughters. It is believed that daughters born here are sacrificed to Doitto (a demonic power). Shubankar (Indraneil Sengupta) is living a peaceful life in the city with his wife Ambika (Kajol) and daughter Shweta (Keerthana Sharma), having escaped this tradition. But fate pulls him back to the same terrifying village when he returns to sell property after his father's death.
With the help of the village Sarpanch (head) Jaydev (Ronit Roy), he wants to get rid of his past, but he cannot escape the clutches of Doitto and loses his life. Following this, Ambika comes to the village with her daughter Shweta, where she finds out that young girls are disappearing, and a dark power is preying on them. The situation worsens when Shweta also becomes a target of Doitto, and Ambika has to go to the ultimate limit to save her daughter.
Good Idea, Weak Craft
Screenwriter Sayan Quadros, taking inspiration from the mythological tales of Raktabeeja and Kali Maa, has crafted an interesting setup, but the screenplay has remained very flat. The film also fails to scare, despite the subject having a lot of scope. Director Vishal Furia's work also feels a bit repetitive, as the novelty he created in films like 'Chhori' is missing here.
'Maa' features scenes of the jungle, scary sounds, and the atmosphere of the sacrificial tradition, but the lack of thrilling scenes is noticeable. The climax also becomes quite predictable.
Kajol's Strong Performance, Ronit Roy Shines
Kajol has made a brilliant effort as a mother. The film largely rests on her shoulders, and she has shown her determination through her eyes and expressions. But truthfully, Ronit Roy steals the show. His body language, dialogue delivery, and villainous style are quite powerful in the multi-faceted character of Jaydev.
Keerthana Sharma, in the role of Shweta, proves to be a little weak. Her acting feels artificial in some places. Vibha Rani (as the guide) and Dibyendu Bhattacharya (in the role of a servant) have done well in small roles and leave their mark.
Technical Aspects Average
The cinematography (Pushkar Singh) and production design (Sheetal Duggal) have worked hard to make the story visually authentic. The village lanes, the Kali temple, and the jungle atmosphere feel realistic. But the background score was not as effective as it should have been in a horror film. As for the songs, they are not memorable.
'Maa' is a good attempt, trying to weave a story by combining gender bias, mythological beliefs, and the power of a mother. But the film seems incomplete on the screenplay and direction front. The excellent performances of Kajol and Ronit Roy save the film, but the film falls short in creating both scares and emotional connection.
If you are a fan of Kajol, or want to see the struggle of a mother and the powerful form of her motherhood, you can watch this film once, otherwise this horror-drama won't be particularly memorable.
