I am a big fan of actress Kajol and have seen almost all of her movies. Her acting, completely devoted to the character she plays, leaves a long-lasting impact on every movie lover. After a long time, she has finally come back with another movie, Maa, a unique mythological horror movie, a story of a mothers fierce and unconditional love who is determined to do anything for her child. Her emotional performance has truly anchored the film, which has showcased her incredible range of command over the screen.
The Story
Directed by Vishal Furia, Maa is a story of the ancient superstition of the village Chandrapur, West Bengal, where female children born in the village have to be sacrificed. Born into one such family, Subhankar(Indraniel Sengupta) lives far away from his village(Chandrapur) with his wife Ambika(Kajol) and his daughter Shweta( Kherin Sharma). One day, Shubhankar heard the news of his father’s death, and he went back to his hometown to meet his own untimely death.
Then, Ambika, along with her daughter, travels to Chandrapur to sell his ancestral bungalow. The main theme of the movie starts from here with the struggle and fight of Ambika against the superstition of the village to save her childs life.
Plus Points
While the emotional story of a mothers love and determination to cross all the boundaries to save her childs life seemed routine to me, a few moments in Maa were spot on. The movie explores the elements of myth and legend, adding an interesting layer to the narrative.
Kajol, no doubt being a superstar, has delivered an outstanding performance throughout the movie. The unique mythological horror flick and gripping family drama with supernatural horror is outstanding. Especially, its mythological aspect, drawn from the legend of the goddess Kali and the demon Raktabeej, is a refreshing take on the genre. The first half of the movie has done a great job of building suspense and creating an eerie atmosphere, especially with the visuals of the haveli and its surroundings. Although the movie deals with scary moments, the real strength lies in its emotional core.
Minus Points
The lack of recency is the biggest drawback of the movie. The way film is narrated is nothing special, and is much like old movies, which are boring. The first half is slow and tedious, but some captivating moments in the second half have successfully maintained the flow.
Even in some parts of the movie, a few scenes were unnecessarily inserted for the sake of advancing the narrative, but they failed. The climax execution fails to live up to expectations. The movie has failed to handle the narrative and tone. The cinematography and editing didnt add much value, but the background score is quite good, and the production values are decent.
Final Verdict
Maa is a fantasy horror film that didnt live up to my expectations, but the acting of the lead actors, especially Kaajol, kept me in throughout the movie. Her acting is outstanding. She has beautifully portrayed the unconditional love of a mother and her determination to do anything for her daughter. The climax of the movie is arresting and elevates a powerful portrayal of Nari Shakti and a mothers divine wrath, which is really praiseworthy. But from the core sense of understanding I feel, the movie is more for Kajols fans, as apart from her exceptional acting, there is nothing much appreciable in the movie.