Maa Movie Review: Kajol leads a mythological horror with fire and grace

Departing from his last action thriller, Vishal Furia tackles a fresh and new genre, mythological-horror, and tells a tale rooted in cultural folklore. Instead of relying on gimmicks, it blends emotion, and dread into a layered mythical narrative. Taking inspiration from folklore, it packs it with powerhouse performances, hence creating a mythological horror entertainer that channels maternal grief into something mythic and terrifying.

Set in the cursed village of Chandrapur, Maa begins as a personal loss and slowly turns into a spiritual war. It narrates a raw and immersive tale, what happens when a mother’s mourning collides with a curse, that to be a Daitya, born from spilled demonic blood, still alive and hungry and hunting. The film is a modern take on Kali Vs Raktabeej, from this seed of legend, the filmmaker builds a mysterious world which is terrifying and yet relatable.

The film delves into Faith Vs Evil, it’s the main element of the narrative, where mythology and belief clash with dark forces in a modern-day setting. The film creatively reimagines the ancient tale of Kali and Raktabeej, infusing it with a contemporary tale. The epic climax of the film, which is visceral, powerful, and crafted for the big screen, is an ode to the mythology legend.