Kajol's latest horror film, Maa, has concluded its first weekend in theaters, earning an estimated ₹17 crore in India. Despite mixed reviews, the film has managed to draw audiences, blending mythological horror with an emotional storyline centered around a mother and daughter.
On its opening day, Maa earned ₹4.75 crore, followed by a 26% jump on Day 2, collecting ₹6 crore. Day 3 saw a further increase of approximately 10%, with collections reaching ₹6.50 crore. The film had an overall Hindi occupancy of 30.99% on Sunday, with evening shows experiencing the highest occupancy at 46.68%.
Maa faced competition from Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par and the Hollywood release F1. Trade analysts suggest that Maa's box office numbers could have been higher with less competition and more show allocations. The film also implemented a "buy two get one free" ticket offer on its opening day to attract audiences, though this scheme was not applicable over the weekend.
The movie is directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Ajay Devgn. Maa explores elements of myths and legends, with Kajol portraying a determined mother who evolves from an ordinary woman to a powerful figure. The film's visual effects have been praised, with some reviewers noting the striking imagery of shape-shifting shadows, mythical creatures, and haunted houses. Some have pointed out the predictable storyline and a lack of emotional depth. Some critics felt the film took too long to set the mood, and that the horror elements were not consistently scary. Others found the first half of the film to be well-paced, but the second half muddled.
Kajol's performance as the lead is generally well-received, with many saying that she delivers a strong performance as a mother fighting for her daughter. Ronit Roy and Kherin Sharma also appear in the film.
Whether Maa will be a box office success remains to be seen. Reportedly produced on a budget of ₹30-40 crore, the film may need to earn ₹60-80 crore to be considered a hit.
