In Maa, Kajol portrays a single mother who relocates with her daughter to the haunted village of Chandrapur after her husband’s mysterious death. The village harbors a demonic curse: a daitya living in a tree sacrifices young girls. As disappearances escalate, Kajol’s character transforms—channeling the divine wrath of Goddess Kali to protect her child and destroy the evil lurking in the village
Trailer Highlights & Village of Shadows
The 2m24s trailer plunges us into chilling sequences:
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A corpse smashes into their car windshield during a forest drive.
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A girl hangs from a tree in an abandoned forest where several girls went missing.
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Kajol levitates into her Kali avatar, declaring, “Jab tak teri maa tere sath hai, tera koi kuch nahi bigaad sakta” (“As long as your mother is with you, no one can harm you”)
Emotional Power & Thematic Core
Maa blends deep maternal love with mythic horror. The film emphasizes a mother’s transformation from protector (rakshak) to destroyer (bhakshak), wielding primal devotion as a supernatural force. The inclusion of cast and crew names alongside their mothers’ names in the credits adds a heartfelt tribute to motherhood .
Kajol’s Bold New Chapter
This marks Kajol’s first foray into horror, and she’s described this role as “one of the strongest” of her 34-year career. For promotion, she sought blessings at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, calling upon divine strength for her character. Off-camera, she joked that she watches horror films silently to tone down fear, underscoring the power of sound in elevating horror—an insight reflecting her thoughtful approach to the genre
Trailer Buzz—Public & Critical Reception
The trailer unleashed a wave of reactions:
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Public excitement: Viewers praised the return of “Bollywood horror,” with comments like:
“It feels like Bollywood horror is back. I was excited for this & the trailer didn’t disappoint… horror rooted in Indian culture always stands out!
Visual critique: Some noted that VFX in tree-branch and fire scenes felt “cheap,” though they remain hopeful that the theatrical experience will elevate the visuals
Production Roots & Universe Building
Directed by Vishal Furia (Chhorii) and written by Saiwyn Quadras, Maa is produced by Ajay Devgn, Jyoti Deshpande, and Kumar Mangat Pathak under the Devgn Films and Jio Studios banner. It serves as a spin-off to 2024’s Shaitaan, expanding a shared “World of Shaitaan”