Maa (2025) Movie: Why Kajol’s Horror Return Hits Different This Time
Maa (2025) brings together Kajol’s powerhouse performance in a supernatural thriller that explores maternal protection. Directed by Vishal Furia, this horror drama features Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, and Kherin Sharma. The film attempts to blend traditional horror with contemporary storytelling.
Released on June 27, 2025, under Ajay Devgn’s production banner, Maa presents themes of family, sacrifice, and supernatural elements rooted in Indian folklore. With Kajol returning to horror after a gap, the film carries significant expectations from critics and audiences.
Plot and Storyline
The story follows Ambika (Kajol), who lives in Kolkata with husband Shuvankar (Indraneil Sengupta) and daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma). When forced to visit Shuvankar’s ancestral village Chandarpur after his father’s death, the family encounters dark secrets and supernatural forces.
Village sarpanch Joydev (Ronit Roy) introduces them to mysterious elements that threaten Shweta’s safety. This transforms Ambika from a simple housewife into a fierce protector willing to confront any supernatural force to save her daughter.
Cast Performance
Kajol delivers the film’s strongest performance as Ambika, showcasing remarkable emotional range and screen presence. Her transformation from caring mother to fierce warrior fighting supernatural forces feels authentic and compelling. I found her portrayal genuinely moving, especially in scenes where she displays a mother’s desperation.
Ronit Roy brings intensity as the village sarpanch, though his character needed more depth. Indraneil Sengupta delivers competently but remains underdeveloped. Kherin Sharma shows promise but feels inconsistent in emotionally demanding scenes.
Technical Aspects
The film demonstrates strong visual presentation with effective cinematography capturing the eerie rural atmosphere. Practical effects and makeup work deserve praise for enhancing supernatural sequences without heavy digital reliance. The production design successfully contrasts urban Kolkata with mysterious Chandarpur.
However, pacing becomes problematic in middle portions where the narrative drags. The editing could be tighter, especially during exposition-heavy scenes that slow momentum.
Direction and Screenplay
Vishal Furia’s direction shows ambition in creating horror that explores deeper family themes. His genre experience shows in well-crafted tension-building sequences. The focus on the mother-daughter emotional core works effectively.
The screenplay suffers from pacing issues and predictable developments. While the premise is solid, execution feels formulaic, following established horror tropes without enough fresh elements. Some supernatural elements remain underdeveloped, leaving mythology questions unanswered.
Critical Reception
The film received a 6.8 IMDb rating, with critics praising technical strength in visuals, practical effects, and cinematography. Several reviewers gave 3.5 stars, calling it thrilling and extremely well-made horror drama entertainer.
Critics consistently praised Kajol’s splendid performance and her determination to protect her daughter. However, some described it as routine horror drama, though acknowledging Kajol’s exceptional work as the determined mother.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Kajol’s powerhouse performance stands as the film’s greatest strength, providing emotional anchoring throughout. The technical aspects, cinematography, and practical effects create an atmospheric horror experience. Rural setting and production design effectively establish contrasting worlds.
The film struggles with pacing issues preventing consistent tension. Predictable horror conventions reduce potentially powerful moments’ impact. Character development remains superficial except for Kajol’s Ambika. Tonal inconsistencies between horror and family drama may confuse audiences expecting straightforward horror.
Final Verdict
Maa (2025) succeeds primarily as a vehicle for Kajol’s exceptional performance while struggling as a memorable horror film. It works best focusing on emotional mother-daughter relationships but falters delivering genuine horror thrills. I believe it offers decent entertainment with strong technical production but falls short of being the standout horror film it aspires to be.
The film will satisfy viewers seeking family-oriented supernatural drama with strong emotional elements. However, those expecting intense horror thrills may feel disappointed. Kajol’s fans will appreciate her committed performance, which remains the most compelling viewing reason.
Rating: 3/5
