Bollywood continues its dive into bruised and battered supernatural narratives which certainly encompass horror and the film Maa is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious projects in horror in recent memory. Featuring Kajol in a role that is unlike any role she has played before, this film covers elements of mythology, horror, and unfiltered maternal emotion to fully form a work that is going to stick in the minds of its audience.
The trailer for Maa, recently released, has already gained traction due to haunting images, I’ve seen and a driven emotional narrative involving Kajol’s character transforming into a mother hell-bent on saving her children from an ancient evil. Maa is slated for theatrical release June 27, 2025, where it will appear in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, a well-considered move due to its expansive narrative reach.
A Love Story Saturated in Horror
Maa traces the journey of a woman from a backward little village that is hit with strange frightful happenings. When her young daughter starts to act oddly, Kajol’s character suspects something much darker than just an illness. Her suspicion is confirmed when she learns that her daughter has been marked by a Rakshas, a dark spirit from the ages of Indian mythology.
The film emerges as a tale about a mother’s unbreakable bond and unearths the horrific journeys she must venture on, to save her daughter. As you can see from the trailer, she does not just face ghosts or demons, but instead ancient secrets, spiritual curses, and supernatural tasks that will test her strength of character.
Compelling Visuals and Atmospheric Storytelling
Right from the beginning, the Maa trailer establishes a heavy tone. The trailer opens by showing an eerie shot of a dead body that falls onto the windshield. It sets the tone immediately for what lies ahead. The trailer is moody, creepy, and draws deeply from Indian folklore and traditions. The thick forests, ancient texts, culturally-relevant household rituals, and haunted village stories create an aura of genuine authenticity rarely seen in mainstream horror.
The director, Vishal Furia, who has created rich horror experiences before, assumes that viewers will join him in taking the plunge into a powerful collage of suspense and weight, in an appropriately evil miasma that reveals the terrifying nature of the family caught in the unquestionable curse. The cinematic experience seems to leave jump scares behind, as the psychological horror is gained from the ancient mysticism and dread evoked of spiritual evil along with the slow process of being trapped.
Kajol’s Daring New Persona
Without a doubt, one of the main attractions of Maa is Kajol’s involvement. She has traditionally been associated with character-driven drama and comedy but this is her first true horror experience. She seems to have fully embraced the opportunity.
Throughout the trailer, Kajol’s performance takes us on a journey through emotions from fear and confusion, to strength and rage. There are flashes of her performing puja, holding her daughter during demonic episodes, and at times, confronting terrifying forces. It is a physical, emotional role and Kajol presents both vulnerability and resilience.
The maternal response is not depicted as passive, it is fierce and active, revealing both healing and impulsive rage. In western culture, maternal instincts are applauded so long as they fit in the bounds of accepted behavior. In addition, within Indian culture, we idolize an inherent and divine power of motherhood. Thus, Maa reflects both myth and horror but also celebrates and expands our definitions of female strength.
Mythology Feeds into Modern Horror
Maa is different than other horror films in the horror genre, as it pulls from Indian mythology. The concept of the Rakshas, or demonic beings in mythology ancient text, has a wealth of information about spiritual peril, ritual and karmic action.
Maa is grounded in areas of difficult concept of horror, as there are few ‘Haunted House’ tropes or possessions or exorcisms of traditional western sensibility, because it pulls from regional custom, traditions, legend and symbolism. It is horror that is closer to home, more personal and therefore much more frightening since it is culturally proximal.
Maa also lives in the same universe as Shaitaan (2024), and therefore creates a shared mythological horror universe that allows for even more interlocking stories moving forward, and where spiritual battles and ancient evils travel across films.
A Multilingual, Pan-Indian Release
With a release in four different Indian languages-Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali-Maa was made to appeal to audiences across regions. Horror typically travels well, especially when adapted from local folklore, regardless of language. This film’s premise, emotional heft, and stunning visual imagery will likely help it achieve pan-India success. and
Watch the official trailer here:
🎬 MAA – OFFICIAL TRAILER | Kajol, Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta
Maa will deliver much more than a horror film—it’s a story about motherhood, sacrifice, and a plunge into the heart of darkness. With Kajol as the driving force, plus a riveting story and exquisite visual language, Maa will usher in a new era for Bollywood horror.
If you’re preparing yourself for a combination of myth, emotion, and pure bone-chilling horror, then circle June 27, 2025, on your calendar. Maa isn’t coming simply to scare—you won’t just be scared, you will be awakened to ancient fears you didn’t know you had.
Stay tuned to Club4Celebs for more updates.
