A Myth-Horror that puts Motherhood at the Centre of the Storm
The film opens in a classroom where Ambika (Kajol) introduces her students to the legend of Maa Kali and a daitya (demon). She then asks, “Agar maa ke bachhe pe sankat aaye toh maa kya karti hai?” The students reply: “Maa raksha karti hai.” “Maa ladti hai.” [“What does a mother do when her child is in danger?”
It may seem like a simple classroom moment. But as the story of this mythological horror steeped in Bengali folklore unfolds, that line echoes through every turn and becomes the emotional spine of this myth-horror thriller.
Directed by Vishal Furia and backed by Ajay Devgn Films in association with Jio Studios and Panorama Studios, Maa arrives on streaming as a rare entry into Indian cinema’s underexplored mythological horror space. It’s an atmospheric, slow-burning story that blends legend with emotion, fear with faith, and places a mother at the center of the supernatural storm.
Ambika is a teacher and a mother still reeling from the sudden death of her husband (played by Indraneil Sengupta), who passed away after returning to his ancestral village. She decides to visit the same village with her daughter Shweta (Kherin Sharma), intending to sell off their old home. But the village has other stories to tell—ones soaked in fear and silence.
The legend here is chilling: when a girl reaches puberty, a demon awakens and takes her. She returns days later, unaware of where she’s been. She’s unharmed, but her period stops—and so does the conversation. No one dares to question it. That is, until it happens to Shweta.
What follows is not a high-octane supernatural showdown, but a slow, unsettling transformation of Ambika—from a grieving woman to a mother who refuses to accept fear as fate. Kajol brings a quiet gravitas to the role. There’s no overacting, no melodramatic breakdowns—just simmering resolve, and in some key scenes, deeply felt silence. It’s a performance that doesn’t demand your attention but earns it.
The film’s horror is more psychological than visceral. The fear seeps in through pauses, shadows, and the implications of what’s been allowed to go unspoken for too long. The myth, though intriguing, isn’t explored in great depth, and the screenplay does hit a few lulls. Ronit Roy makes a solid appearance as the village sarpanch, but even his presence feels slightly underused.
Maa is not the typical horror-thriller. It’s more interested in the emotional power of a mother who has everything to lose. It’s not without flaws—pacing issues and a somewhat rushed third act do hold it back—but what it offers is rare: a horror film that means something.
As Ambika confronts the darkness and risks everything to bring her daughter home, the film circles back to that opening question. It doesn’t need to ask it again. By then, we know the answer. She protects. She fights. She becomes the storm.
Because this is a story where the goddess doesn’t stay in temples. She walks into the woods. She hunts the darkness. And she brings her daughter home.
Watch it for: A fresh take on horror rooted in Indian myth, a strong central performance by Kajol, and an emotional undercurrent that gives the genre a rare depth. Maa might not break new ground, but it walks an unusual path
CREDITS
Produced by: Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande
Co-producer: Kumar Mangat Pathak
Production Companies: Devgn Films, Jio Studios, Panorama Studios
Directed by: Vishal Furia
Written and Screenplay by: Saiwyn Quadras
Dialogues: Aamil Keeyan Khan & Ajit Jagtap
Executive & Line Producers: Ashish Raj Kathpal, Vivek Jayshree Padaliya
Cinematography: Pushkar Singh
Editor: Sandeep Francis
VFX: NY VFXWaala
Creative Head – VFX: Naveen Saloni Paul
. Seema Dhawan