Every village has its secrets. And in Maa, director Vishal Furia takes us deep into one such secret buried in the misty corners of Chandrapur, a sleepy village in West Bengal. What starts off as a seemingly predictable horror story slowly reveals itself to be a tale of emotional depth, chilling folklore, and a mother’s fierce love for her child. But does this fantasy-horror drama actually deliver a gripping cinematic experience? Or does it get lost in the fog of its own ambition? Let’s unravel it together.
A Dark Legacy and a Chilling Return
The story kicks off with an unsettling premise: In Chandrapur, there’s an ancient belief that female children born into certain families are destined for sacrifice. It’s a disturbing superstition that still casts a long shadow on the villagers’ lives.
Shubankar, played by the ever-reliable Indraneil Sengupta, was born into one of these cursed families. But years ago, he left it all behind. Now, he lives far from the village with his wife Ambika (played by Kajol) and their young daughter, Shweta (played by Kherin Sharma). Life seems peaceful—until it isn’t.
One day, Shubankar receives news that his father has passed away. Reluctantly, he returns to his ancestral home in Chandrapur to take care of the last rites. But before he can escape the clutches of his past, tragedy strikes again. Shubankar dies under mysterious circumstances.
With no choice but to face the shadows herself, Ambika travels to Chandrapur with Shweta, intending to sell the ancestral bungalow and leave forever. But of course, nothing in Chandrapur is ever that simple.
Chandrapur: Where Folklore Feels Real
Once Ambika and Shweta arrive, things begin to unravel. And fast. The village is drenched in superstition, and strange occurrences begin to plague the mother-daughter duo. Is there a supernatural force at play? Or is something even more sinister lurking beneath the surface?
From ghostly whispers in the hallways to villagers who act just a little too suspicious, Ambika is pulled into a web of mystery that ties back to the superstition surrounding her family. As she starts connecting the dots, what unfolds is a story that challenges both belief and reason.
Kajol: The Heart of the Film
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Kajol—because let’s face it, this film rests almost entirely on her shoulders. And she carries it like a pro. She portrays Ambika as a layered character—beginning as a simple, grounded woman who just wants to protect her child and move on from her husband’s death. But as the stakes rise and the truth of the village creeps out from the cracks, her transformation into a determined, brave mother willing to take on the darkness is both believable and inspiring.
In the latter half of the film, Kajol really comes into her own. The pre-climax and climax sequences, where her character is forced to face the horrifying truth and make impossible choices, are especially effective. You can feel the desperation, the fear, and the resolve in her eyes. It’s a performance that elevates the material.
Moments That Shine… and Moments That Drag
Now, here’s where Maa gets tricky.
There are flashes of brilliance in the film—especially when it blends horror elements with age-old mythology. There’s an undeniable thrill in trying to piece together the mystery, especially when the movie teases connections between superstition and something possibly real. Some sequences do a great job of creating tension without relying too much on jump scares. Think slow-building dread instead of sudden loud bangs.
But unfortunately, the good parts are scattered among long stretches that just don’t work. The first half, in particular, is painfully slow. The narrative feels like it’s crawling toward something you already half-guess is coming. And while horror often thrives on slow pacing to build atmosphere, Maa struggles to maintain engagement. The sluggish storytelling drains the suspense instead of feeding it.
Even in the second half, where things pick up and the story gets juicier, the momentum isn’t consistent. Just when you think the film is finding its rhythm, it throws in an unnecessary scene or meanders off-track. It’s the kind of storytelling that can frustrate even the most patient viewer.
The Myth vs. The Monster
One of the more intriguing aspects of Maa is its attempt to explore the line between myth and reality. Is the village’s dark superstition just that—a belief passed down for generations? Or is there a more tangible horror lurking behind the old wives’ tales?
The film teases this question beautifully. There are moments when you, as a viewer, are genuinely torn. You want to believe Ambika’s rational mind. But the whispers in the shadows and the cursed history make it hard to dismiss the supernatural completely. This tug-of-war between belief and logic adds an interesting tension that keeps you on your toes.
However, the film doesn’t quite capitalize on this theme as much as it could have. It sets up a compelling premise but often defaults to clichéd horror tropes instead of diving deeper into the psychological and cultural horror of superstition.
Missed Opportunities and Technical Flaws
Director Vishal Furia clearly had a vision—an eerie village steeped in myth, a mother battling dark forces, and a mystery that keeps us guessing. But somewhere along the way, the execution falters.
For one, the narrative tone is uneven. At times, it feels like the film is trying too hard to be a horror-thriller with elaborate VFX sequences, which don’t always land convincingly. And while the background score does manage to heighten a few key moments, the cinematography and editing leave much to be desired. Scenes feel stretched out, transitions aren’t tight, and overall pacing issues persist.
You can sense that the story had potential. There’s emotional weight, a folklore-rich setting, and a powerhouse performance at the center. But the overreliance on horror gimmicks and the director’s inability to maintain a consistent tone make it feel like a missed opportunity.
The Climax: A Mixed Bag
Without giving away spoilers, the climax of Maa is probably the film’s most intense and impactful segment. The stakes are high, and the emotional payoff is satisfying in some ways. The movie builds to a moment where everything—the horror, the mythology, and Ambika’s personal arc—converges. And for a few minutes, Maa genuinely grips you.
But even here, the execution slightly lets the script down. The ideas are good. The emotional resonance is there. But the way it’s all visually and narratively presented lacks punch. You’re invested, sure—but you also wish the film had earned this moment with a stronger build-up.
Final Thoughts: Worth the Watch?
So, should you watch Maa?
Well, that depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a die-hard Kajol fan or someone who enjoys slow-burn fantasy horror with a folkloric touch, there’s enough here to keep you mildly intrigued. The mother-daughter bond is heartwarming. And the exploration of superstition as both a cultural truth and a source of fear gives the film a unique flavor.
But if you’re expecting edge-of-your-seat scares, a tightly written plot, or a horror movie that reinvents the wheel—you might walk away underwhelmed.
Maa is one of those films that has its heart in the right place but doesn’t quite know how to bring its vision fully to life. It’s got emotion, atmosphere, and ambition—but it stumbles in execution.
The Bottom Line
In the end, Maa is a film that tries to be many things—a fantasy horror, a folklore mystery, a mother’s emotional journey—but doesn’t quite master any of them. It shines in parts, falters in others, and leaves you with a sense of “what could have been.”
If nothing else, watch it for Kajol. Her performance alone brings dignity and depth to a story that often loses its way. And who knows—you might just find yourself haunted not by the ghosts of Chandrapur, but by the lingering thought of how close Maa came to being truly great.
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