Maa is a supernatural horror film directed by Vishal Furia. It is a spinoff to the 2024 film Shaitaan, being set in the same universe. After her husband dies due to a supernatural cause, a mother and her daughter visit his hometown, only to discover a demonic curse that puts their lives at risk. Maa was released theatrically on 27 June 2025.
Star Cast:
Kajol as Ambika
Ronit Roy as Joydev
Indraneil Sengupta as Shuvankar
Kherin Sharma as Shweta
Jitin Gulati as Shekhar
Gopal Singh as Bikash
Surjyasikha Das as Nandini
Aashit Chatterjee as Jagdish
Rupkatha Chakraborty as Deepika
Aayushi Lahiri as Shuvankar’s mother
Yaaneea Bharadwaj as Young Priestess
Vibha Rani as Old Priestess
Nazneen Madan as Reeti
Ajitabh Sengupta as Broker
Dibyendu Bhattacharya as Bimal
Naveen Sandhu as Young Joydev
MOVIE REVIEW: Maa, the second film in the Shaitaan universe, promises an ambitious blend of mythology and horror, but ultimately delivers a middling experience. Set in the rural backdrop of Chandrapur, near Kolkata, the film follows a determined mother caught in a terrifying supernatural struggle to save her daughter. In comparison to Shaitaan, Maa feels underwhelming and less cohesive. It neither offers the psychological tension of a horror classic nor the visual spectacle of a mythological epic.
Despite its intriguing premise, Maa falls short of making a lasting impression, both emotionally and cinematically. The concept of weaving mythological elements into a horror framework is undoubtedly rich with potential. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t fully rise to the occasion. The first half is relatively taut and builds up some anticipation, giving the illusion that the film is heading toward a chilling climax. However, the second half rapidly loses steam becoming sluggish, overlong, and predictable.
Maa delivers visuals that are sadly unimpressive. The VFX, instead of elevating the horror, often diminish it with lackluster execution. This becomes even more apparent when compared to the bar set by the Maddock Cinematic Universe. Except for a few standout scenes — notably the car escape sequence featuring Ambika and Shweta being chased by monster girls, there is little tension or immersion.
Kajol carries the weight of the film on her shoulders with an earnest performance. She plays the concerned and fierce mother convincingly, but the script does her no favors. Young talents Kherin Sharma and Rupkatha Chakraborty provide fine support, while Ronit Roy emerges as the film’s surprise package. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is reliable as always, but the rest of the cast, unfortunately, leaves a forgettable impression, largely due to flat characterizations.
Maa Movie Rating:
Direction 1.5/5
Acting 2.5/5
Dialogues 2/5
Story 2/5
Screenplay 2/5
Overall Hit ya Flop Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars (Below Average)
A Lukewarm Addition to the Shaitaan Universe. Not Recommended 👎🏻
