Kajol’s film Maa has been released in theatres. Produced by Ajay Devgn, the film features Kajol in yet another strong role. If you’re planning to watch it, read our review first.
Following the success of Ajay Devgn and R. Madhavan’s Shaitaan, Maa has been released as a continuation of that universe. The trailer for Maa, starring Kajol, was a hit right from the start. In the trailer, Kajol was seen battling invisible forces and seeking the blessings of Goddess Kali to save her daughter’s life. The actress promoted the film extensively, and after much anticipation and excitement among viewers, the film has finally hit theatres.
What’s the story about?
The story of Maa begins in the village of Chanderpur in West Bengal. A wealthy mansion owner’s wife is in labor, while a grand ritual in honor of Goddess Kali is taking place in the mansion. The woman gives birth to a boy, and the news brings joy to her husband and everyone attending the ritual. However, it is then revealed that she’s actually given birth to twins. The second child is a girl, who is considered a harbinger of misfortune and is sacrificed. Behind the mansion lies a ruined area with a tree that is believed to house a demon. The demon is about to attack the villagers but stops once the baby girl is killed.
Forty years pass. The boy born that night, Subhankar (Indraneil Sengupta), is now an adult living in Kolkata with his wife Ambika (Kajol) and their 12-year-old daughter Shweta (Khairin Sharma). Subhankar has distanced himself from Chanderpur and kept it a secret from his family that he has a daughter. On the other hand, Shweta has never seen the village. Why this secrecy? That’s something you’ll only learn by watching the film.
The twist comes when Ambika and Shweta finally arrive in Chanderpur and face the demon by the tree along with several other challenges. Shweta’s life is now in danger, and Ambika must risk everything to save her. The demon can only be killed with the blessings of Goddess Kali. The real intrigue lies in how Ambika awakens Kali’s power and saves her daughter.
How is the film?
There’s no doubt that Maa, made under the Shaitaan universe, is a weaker film. If you’ve watched Shaitaan, you probably liked it despite its flaws—it brought a compelling story to Bollywood that had rarely been seen before, with stellar performances by Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, Janki Bodiwala, and Jyotika. In Maa, the film is carried solely by Kajol’s shoulders. She is supported by Indraneil Sengupta, whose role is quite limited, and Ronit Roy.
The performances in the film are solid. However, its weakness lies in the story and screenplay. Director Vishal Furia was given the task of taking the Shaitaan universe forward, but he doesn’t completely succeed. The story, written by Ajit Jagtap, Amil Keeyan Khan, and Saiwyn Quadras, reminds you of Anushka Sharma’s Pari and Sharvari Wagh’s Munjya.
The film is very slow-paced. The first half tests your patience but still manages to keep you engaged for one reason or another. The second half picks up speed, and layers of the plot begin to unfold. The movie has plenty of jump scares that will get your heart racing from time to time. The climax is good, although one entire scene could have been cut—it feels bizarre and hard to understand. The music is average.
Kajol delivers a strong performance. As one of the top heroines of the 90s, she never falls short in her acting. However, weak stories and screenplays have often been roadblocks in her recent films. Indraneil Sengupta, Surjyashikha Das, Gopal Singh, Rupkatha Chakraborty, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya all play important roles and perform well. Ronit Roy is the hidden gem of the film. He does a good job, although his character is quite predictable. Khairin Sharma performs well with what she’s given, though her shrill voice in most scenes can get grating.
