Maa (2025) Movie: Kajol’s Powerful Performance Can’t Save This Uneven Horror Thriller
Maa (2025) marks Kajol’s return to cinema after three years, bringing her back in a horror-mythological drama that has created significant buzz. Directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande, this supernatural thriller explores maternal protection against dark forces.
The film features Kajol in the lead role, supported by Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, Jitin Gulati, and others. Positioned as a horror-mythological thriller, Maa delves into supernatural elements while maintaining its core as a story about a mother’s fight to protect her daughter.
Plot and Storyline
Maa presents itself as a story from the world of ‘Shaitaan’ where a mother fights the supernatural alone to save her daughter. The narrative centers around Kajol’s character confronting dark supernatural forces that threaten her daughter’s safety. The film blends traditional horror with mythological undertones, creating a supernatural thriller that draws from Indian folklore.
The storyline explores themes of maternal protection and sacrifice. Set against supernatural occurrences, the plot unfolds as a psychological battle where the protagonist must rely on inner strength to overcome otherworldly adversaries.
Cast Performance
Kajol delivers a powerhouse performance in her cinema return, showcasing versatility in handling emotional drama and supernatural horror. Her portrayal of a protective mother brings depth and authenticity, utilizing her extensive experience to navigate the film’s complex emotional landscape. The veteran actress demonstrates her ability to carry the film single-handedly.
Ronit Roy provides solid support, bringing characteristic intensity to complement Kajol’s central performance. His presence adds gravitas to supernatural proceedings while his chemistry helps ground the fantastical elements.
The supporting cast delivers adequate performances, though their roles appear somewhat limited. While they contribute to the narrative framework, their characters seem designed primarily to support the central mother-daughter dynamic.
Direction and Technical Aspects
Director Vishal Furia brings his signature style to supernatural horror filmmaking. His approach emphasizes psychological tension over jump scares, creating an atmosphere of dread that builds throughout the runtime. Furia’s direction focuses on character development while maintaining supernatural elements.
The film’s technical aspects work together to create an immersive horror experience. Visual storytelling employs shadows, lighting, and atmospheric elements to enhance supernatural mood, while sound design amplifies tension during crucial sequences.
However, some critics noted that execution occasionally resembles television serial drama rather than cinematic filmmaking, suggesting the presentation might not always meet theatrical standards.
Music and Background Score
The film’s musical composition supports the horror-thriller genre with atmospheric background scores that enhance supernatural sequences. Sound design plays a crucial role in building tension and creating jump-scare moments while maintaining subtlety during emotional scenes.
The background music complements Kajol’s performance, particularly during intense confrontational scenes. However, the film relies more on background score than standalone musical numbers, focusing on atmospheric enhancement.
Critical Reception
Early overseas reviews showed mixed but generally positive reception, with one critic rating the film 3.5 stars and describing it as extremely well made Horror drama entertainer. This suggests the film succeeds in maintaining audience engagement throughout its runtime.
However, some critics expressed concerns about execution, noting that Maa fails to grasp the essence of effective horror filmmaking with scares few and far between. These mixed reviews indicate that while the film has compelling elements, it may struggle to satisfy hardcore horror enthusiasts.
Recent reviews acknowledge the film has all the right ingredients but suggest execution doesn’t always live up to potential. Critics appreciate Kajol’s performance and thematic ambitions while noting shortcomings in horror elements.
What Works
The film’s greatest strength lies in Kajol’s commanding central performance, which anchors the narrative with emotional authenticity. Her ability to convey maternal desperation provides the film with its emotional core, making supernatural elements more believable.
The mother-daughter relationship theme resonates strongly, tapping into universal parental fears. This emotional foundation gives weight to supernatural proceedings, making stakes feel personal rather than merely fantastical.
I found the film’s connection to the Shaitaan universe particularly interesting, as it provides expansion of supernatural mythology in Indian cinema while offering familiar elements for returning audiences.
Areas for Improvement
The horror elements appear insufficient, with scares being few and far between, causing the film to lean more toward family drama than genuine horror. This balance issue may disappoint audiences expecting consistent supernatural tension.
The execution occasionally resembles television production values rather than cinematic quality, potentially diminishing the theatrical experience. This presentation style works against the film’s atmospheric goals.
I noticed the supporting characters appear underutilized, missing opportunities to develop ensemble dynamics. More balanced character development could have enhanced the film’s emotional resonance.
Final Verdict
Maa (2025) represents a mixed but noteworthy effort in Indian supernatural horror cinema. While Kajol’s powerful performance and thematic exploration provide solid foundations, inconsistent horror elements prevent it from achieving full potential.
For Kajol fans and those interested in mythology-based supernatural stories, Maa offers enough compelling elements to warrant viewing. However, I feel hardcore horror enthusiasts might find the scares insufficient compared to more focused genre entries.
Rating: 3/5
