Movie Name: Maa
Rating: 2.5/5
Cast: Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, Yaaneea Bharadwaj, Kherin Sharma, Surjyasikha Das, Jitin Gulati, and others
Director: Vishal Furia
Produced By: Ajay Devgn
Release Date: 27th June 2025
Kajol Devgn arrives with Maa, a horror thriller backed by Ajay Devgn, and directed by Vishal Furia. The film is about a mother, who transforms into the goddess Kali to battle a demon’s curse involving fear, blood, and betrayal.
The film is a part of Shaitaan Universe, and let us see whether the inclusion of it is natural or not in our review.
Story:
Ambika (Kajol) and her husband Shuvankar (Indraneil Sengupta) live quite a distance from Chandrapur, which is where Shuvankar grew up.
To save his daughter from sacrifice, Shuvankar, of royal lineage, keeps her existence secret from his family. Ambika and her daughter encounter dire challenges after Shuvankar visits Chandrapur following his father’s death.
Performances:
Kajol is commendable as Ambika and delivers a convincing performance. Ronit Roy’s performance suffered because of his average impact and limited Bengali accent. Kherin is fine, and Indranil Sengupta performs well despite his brief role. Jitin Gulati is not fully utilized.
Analysis:
Vishal Furia directs Maa. The concept and story hold depth, with the unique setup of Goddess Kali and Raktabija’s war. This core idea and its link with the lead family appears promising on paper.
The first half of the film feels slow to establish the mood. One is not afraid or pulled into the world of Chandrapur.
The creature called ‘Daitya’ should frighten, but it does not look as intimidating as it should have been, because the parts involving the character do nt deliver the right amount of intrigue, after a strong foundation.
The second half picks up a bit, with some parts really shining through. The major twist regarding a crucial character is not surprising at all. The lead-up to the climax, where a mother sets on to fight a demon, is solid, but the episode drags though the final sentiment moment works.
Positives:
- Intriguing Theme of Goddess Kali and Raktabija
- Few Jump Scares
- VFX in Some Scenes
Negatives:
- Weak Portrayal of the Villain/Demon’s Character
- Lack of Proper High/Thrilling Moments
- Repetitive VFX Parts
Maa Movie Review and Verdict:
Maa could have been a fantastic mix of horror and mythology, but it misses the target. Kajol nails her role, and the main plot, along with a few moments in the latter half, hit the mark.