Kajol steps into the role of Ambika with fiery conviction, steering Maa through a landscape where folklore and horror entwine, says Abhi Singhal
Kicking off with promise, Maa centres its narrative on Ambika (Kajol), a grieving mother who ventures into a cursed village to confront the forces that threaten her daughter. Built on the myth of Raktabeej and steeped in Kali Puja rituals, the film immediately immerses viewers into its ominous folklore-steeped universe. The visual palette is richly hued — saturated production design, moss-laden forests and decaying architecture all contribute to a gorgeously eerie atmosphere, invoking both dread and fascination.
Kajol anchors the film with intense emotion and unwavering grit, delivering a performance so compelling it’s often the only thing keeping the story grounded. Her transformation into a divine warrior evokes maternal ferocity and spiritual empowerment. Ronit Roy and Indraneil Sengupta provide capable support, though their characters occasionally verge on caricature — Sengupta in his brief, wistful role and Roy as the shadowy village head with ambiguous intent. Jitin Gulati as Sarfaraz takes on the screen in a great way. Visually, Maa offers moments of true horror spectacle. The VFX is intermittently excellent — shadowy apparitions, shape-shifting horrors and twisted deity-inspired manifestations that occasionally deliver chills. The cinematography, particularly in the night sequences lit by the ominous glow of fire and ritual lamps, elevates the film into something visually poetic. Wide aerial shots of the village add to the sense of isolation, while close-ups on Kajol’s anguished expressions draw the viewer directly into her emotional storm. At its strongest, the visual grammar makes the horror feel less about jump scares and more about the suffocating inevitability of fate.
Pacing and structure let the film down. The first half unfolds sluggishly, bogged by unfocused storytelling, while the second half grows increasingly convoluted, with logic gaps and inconsistent character motivation hampering the momentum. Key plot twists feel forced and disjointed — not so much surprise revelations as misaligned puzzle pieces. As a result, the emotional stakes never fully land and the supernatural menace rarely frightens. Amidst the chaos, flashes of boldness emerge.
The film’s moral core lies in a mother’s fierce fight against dehumanising practices like female infanticide. That thematic spine is commendable and marks a knotty, urgent relevance that Maa dares to explore. In fact, the interweaving of social commentary with mythological horror is the film’s most intriguing gamble. Where many horror films lean on shock value alone, Maa attempts to engage with questions of faith, tradition and patriarchy.
Music and sound design further enhance the mood. The score oscillates between chants, metallic clangs and low-frequency rumbles that reverberate through the hall, producing a ritualistic undertone. At moments, silence becomes the most effective weapon-stretches of quiet that make the audience anticipate the terror lurking around the corner. The film is an ambitious mythological horror that’s undeniably fascinating in concept and aesthetic.
Ratings: 3.5/5
Watch Card (Show Information)
Screen Title: Maa (Movie)
Platform Available: Netflix
Running Time: 2 hour 13 minutes
Genre: Horror
