As horror gradually gets its legs in Hindi cinema, ‘Maa’, headlined by Kajol and directed by Vishal Furia, is shaping up to be a scarce gem one that blends mythology, emotion, and supernatural horror underpinned by Indian culture. Directed by Saiwyn Quadras, the film is based in West Bengal and features a mother’s battle against a malevolent force to save her daughter.

Quadras told that the concept of Maa came to him by watching Kajol’s ritualistic yearly visits to Mumbai Durga Puja pandals. “Durga Maa is maternal love. People consider love a soft thing. But if that love is attacked, it turns into something else—Durga into Kali,” he said. That was the emotional and thematic fulcrum of the film.

The film took off rapidly after Quadras presented the concept to Ajay Devgn, the producer of the movie under Devgn Films in association with Jio Studios. “Ajay sir instructed me to write it in 10 days. However, within four, he was asking me to narrate it to Kajol ma’am.” Quadras revealed. Kajol’s instant connect with the idea prompted her to ask for a complete script in a month. ‘She told me, ‘I believe in you. You can do it,”’ he remembered.

Quadras admired Kajol’s talent for moving seamlessly between strongly emotional scenes and everyday humor. “She’s magic. She’ll cry during a scene, then ask breezily, ‘Where’s my coffee?’ the instant we cut,” he added.

Though Maa stands alone as a film, the author seemed to leave the door open for a sequel, if it proves popular with moviegoers. “I have some ideas about carrying on the story,” he stated.

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Maa, made in association with Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Subbarayan and co-presented by Kumar Mangat Pathak, opens in cinemas on June 27, 2025—giving movie fans a chillingly emotional experience immersed in Indian mythology.