Kashif Ur Rehman Maa aims to marry folklore with feminism, and while the result is visually arresting, the storytelling doesn’t always match the ambition. The film’s first act builds tension through evocative cinematography and ominous sound design, immersing us in Chandrapur’s cursed village. Every frame feels textured and deliberate — from blood-soaked rituals to quiet, fog-drenched nights, the world of Maa is meticulously crafted.
However, the story’s pacing becomes a hurdle. Critics have pointed out that the middle act sags, with repetitive exposition and underwhelming scares. The mythology, while intriguing, is sometimes explained more than shown, and emotional beats — especially involving Ambika’s trauma — are occasionally undercut by clunky dialogue or rushed development. There’s also a noticeable imbalance between the character arcs and the supernatural plot, leaving some characters like Ronit Roy’s Shambhu underdeveloped.
Still, Kajol elevates the film. Her performance is passionate, almost theatrical in its intensity — and rightly so, given the mythological leanings. The climax, which sees Ambika channeling Kali, is both cathartic and symbolic. If Maa had a tighter screenplay and more sophisticated effects work, it could have soared. As it stands, it’s an ambitious but inconsistent entry in India’s emerging horror-mythology genre.