Maja Ma Assessment: Even Madhuri Dixit’s appeal could not revive an underwhelming story like this

Maja Ma

Solid: Madhuri Dixit Nene, Gajraj Rao, Ritwik Bhowmik, Barkha Singh, Srishti Shrivastava, Rajit Kapur, Sheeba Chadha, Simone Singh

Ranking: 2/5

Streaming On: Prime Video

Plot

Pallavi Patel (Madhuri Dixit)’s life is ostensibly good A dancer, painter, and an incredible prepare dinner, she is the matriarch of the Patel family, comprising her unassuming husband Manohar Patel (Gajraj Rao), son Tejas Patel (Ritwik Bhowmik), and daughter Tara Patel (Srishti Shrivastava). However, when Tejas’ ladylove Esha Hansraj (Barkha Singh) and her conservative NRI mother and father Bob(Rajit Kapur) and Pam(Sheeba Chadha) from New York Metropolis land in India to speak in regards to the younger couple’s marriage, an unexpected revelation involving Pallavi turns into a hindrance to the phantasm of normalcy and perfection. Will Pallavi face the secrets and techniques of her previous? Will her household stand by her as she confronts her actuality? This turns into the plot of director Anand Tiwari’s movie Maja Ma.

What’s Sizzling

The intention behind Anand Tiwari’s movie is usually the one factor working in its favour. The film tries to start a dialog and tackle points round sexuality, id, dignity, and acceptance. It makes an attempt to deal with the taboo related to the LGBTQIA+ group whereas showcasing that homophobia has nothing to do with training, class, age, or tradition.

A confrontational scene between Pallavi’s in-law Kanchan Adhia (Simone Singh) and Pam Hansraj at a ropeway is without doubt one of the few really partaking scenes within the movie, the place Singh shines no doubt. One other scene that does justice to Chadha’s performing prowess is when she channels her character’s inside damage and indignant Punjabi spouse and lashes out at her husband for his invasive nature and hypocritical entitlement.

What’s Not

Whereas Maja Ma is a movie with made with a noble intention, it falls quick in its execution and impression. Anand Tiwari’s therapy of the layered and complicated topic sadly feels simplistic and underwhelming. That is clearly a narrative about human join, dignity, and, expression in its centre, nevertheless, it lacks the facility of feelings required to make the viewer both really feel impressed or empathize with the characters. The performances by an ensemble solid of actors who’ve in any other case confirmed their performing mettle of their careers, principally fall flat, apart from a few scenes that stand out.

The Hansrajs performed by Rajit Kapur, Sheeba Chadha, and Barkha Singh are NRIs who keep in New York Metropolis, and appear to be caricatures than actual folks. Other than Bob’s and Pam’s irritating personas, their insufferable Americanised accents additionally make it tough to look at them with out cringing. Why did they must be from the USA, I ponder? Possibly Tiwari wished to drive dwelling the truth that the ‘West’ and its influences don’t essentially remodel into progressiveness and that the bourgeois could be equally, if no more, regressive of their ideas and philosophies. However, that would have been simply executed by simply portraying them as first-generation immigrants who haven’t developed the accent but! This is able to have made the over two-hour-long movie a bit extra pleasurable.

Performances

Madhuri Dixit makes an attempt to essay an underwritten character of a dutiful spouse and mom struggling to simply accept the reality of her hidden previous. Nonetheless, she doesn’t achieve bringing the much-needed gravitas to the story, other than the onscreen appeal that’s anticipated from her. Gajraj Rao because the docile husband Manohar doesn’t make a lot of a mark within the movie.

Ritwik Bhowmik does handle to play an irritable, ungrateful son who would possibly remind you of entitled youngsters who by no means consider mother and father as ‘people’ however somewhat put them on pedestals and count on them to be the proper Gods of their lives. Srishti Shrivastava’s Tara is a feisty gender rights activist who generally looks as if the one voice of motive in the home. Each Bhowmik and Srivastava get ample scenes within the movie, however we’ve got seen higher performances from each actors previously, so their potential stay untested.

Barkha Singh and Rajit Kapur, sadly don’t add a lot to the film. Sheeba Chadha will get the chance to showcase her performing chops in a few scenes talked about above.

Simone Singh delivers within the ‘little display time that she will get. Nonetheless, her storyline is difficult for no motive, which doesn’t impression the storyline in any manner.

Closing Verdict

Maja Ma’s energy lies within the thought and intention behind it. Nonetheless, the film lacks the nuance and threat that the story deserved. Other than Madhuri Dixit’s on-screen appeal, and a few partaking scenes, there’s hardly a lot to search for. Anand Tiwari’s Maja Ma is a tough move for me.

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