Kajol's Hindi movie Maa, released this Friday, is a mythological horror film where she portrays a fierce mother, Ambika, who will go to any length to protect her daughter from an ancient demonic curse. The cast also includes Ronit Roy as Joydev, and Indraneil Sengupta as Shuvankar, with Kherin Sharma playing the role of Shweta. The film is directed by Vishal Furia.
Here is what Bollywood film critics have noted about the movie:
India Today: Maa features Kajol as a mother battling dark mythological forces in a visually rich horror setting. Despite impressive effects, the film struggles with predictable storytelling and emotional impact.
Indian Express: The writing is bland, and there is nothing new in the CGI which is extensively used. The film itself falters in the way it keeps its first half loose, and the second half muddled.
Hindustan Times: Kajol's film has all the right ingredients. But the makers throw all of it into a cauldron and forget to turn the heat up.
NDTV: Maa forgets what it wants to be – a straight up horror movie or a mish-mash of many things ranging from a good-versus-evil tale to a celebration of a benign, doting mother's power to be destructive when her child is threatened by a force she can barely comprehend.
