Maja Ma follows Pallavi Patel, a devoted housewife, whose life gets turbulent after a rumor is spread about her on the eve of her son Tejas’ engagement.
Even if Bollywood has wrestled with same-sex love stories in the past and is now significantly comfortable with what were once considered highly contentious issues, a film that speaks so openly about what could have been, even if in fits and starts, is still something to be proud of.
Starring Madhuri Dixit, Simone Singh, Barkha Singh, Ritwik Bhowmik, Gajraj Rao, Srishti Srivastava, and Sheeba Chaddha, Maja Ma intends to achieve a lot but only rarely accomplishes what it plans to.
The Story
The life of Pallavi Patel (Madhuri Dixit) appears to be ideal. She is the matriarch of the Patel family, which also includes her modest husband, Manohar Patel (Gajraj Rao), son Tejas Patel (Ritwik Bhowmik), and daughter Tara Patel (Srishti Shrivastava).
However, an unexpected revelation about Pallavi undermines the appearance of normalcy and perfection as Tejas’ lady love Esha Hansraj (Barkha Singh) and her traditional NRI parents, Bob (Rajit Kapur) and Pam (Sheeba Chadha), arrive in India from New York City to discuss the young couple’s marriage.
Reasons To Stream
Madhuri Dixit is the central pillar around which this film swirls, and in some instances, she does emerge as the actor capable of bringing out her character –complex, wistful, and desirous—to life.
Through Pallavi’s life, Maja Ma tackles touchy subjects such as family, sexuality, and personal choice, yet when faced with tricky situations, Pallavi is shown to choose the easy solution. When the opportunity arises to celebrate the rebel, the film often attempts but remains frightened to embrace her, showing signs of hesitation.
The central saving grace of Anand Tiwari’s film is the sense of purpose that drives it. The film aims to start a discussion and tackle topics related to sexuality, identity, respect, and acceptance. It seeks to dispel the stigma around the LGBTQIA+ community while demonstrating that homophobia is a universal problem unrelated to culture, class, age, or education.
Reasons To Skip
Although Maja Ma is backed by good intentions, its execution and impact are lacking. Unfortunately, Anand Tiwari’s handling of the nuanced and intricate subject comes across as basic and unimpressive.
Despite having a story about human connection, dignity, and expression at its core, it lacks the emotional impact needed to inspire or elicit an emotional response from the audience. Maja Ma’s subversions are too mild to honor Pallavi’s heroic self-abnegation fully.
Except for a few standout passages, the performances by an ensemble cast of actors, who have otherwise demonstrated their acting prowess, generally fall flat.
The Verdict
The thinking and intention that went into Maja Ma give it its power. The movie, however, lacks the complexity and courage that the plot requires. There’s hardly much to look at except Madhuri Dixit’s on-screen charisma and a few exciting sequences.
Overall, Maja Ma is supported by a creative idea, strong acting, and a relevant purpose. However, even then, it is a movie that is comparable to an undercooked meal in which the flavors and ingredients have gone their own ways rather than blending to serve a relishable offering.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rating: 3/5
Maja Ma is now streaming on Prime Video.
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