Maa Is a Fierce Ode to Motherhood — Led by Kajol in Her Most Ferocious Role Yet

In Maa, director Vishal Furia crafts a supernatural horror-drama that pulses with maternal rage and divine vengeance. The film is steeped in mythology, focusing on Ambika (Kajol), a mother who, after the brutal death of her husband and daughter, channels the wrath of goddess Kali to fight a centuries-old demonic curse. Opening with a grim ritual in 1984, the story quickly unravels a haunted village, sinister secrets, and ancient beliefs that shape the narrative’s spiritual backbone.

Kajol gives one of her most commanding performances to date. As Ambika, she transitions from heartbroken mother to mythological avenger with grit and intensity. Her emotional range — grief, fury, transcendence — is the glue that binds the film’s shifting tones. Child actor Kherin Sharma adds sincerity as her daughter, Shweta, while Ronit Roy plays a morally ambiguous village head with stoic menace.

The horror elements are atmospheric but not always effective. While some sequences — like the banyan tree come to life or the fire-and-ashes climax — are genuinely thrilling, others falter due to uneven CGI and predictable scares. Still, Maa succeeds on the strength of its emotional resonance and thematic depth. It’s more than a ghost story — it’s a spiritual reckoning about motherhood, sacrifice, and feminine power.