Overview & Release Context
Kajol returns to the big screen after nearly three years with Maa, a mythological-horror thriller directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Ajay Devgn Films and Jio Studios telugu.samayam.com+15sacnilk.com+15hindustantimes.com+15. Set in the eerie village of Chandrapur, the story follows Ambika (Kajol), who fights supernatural forces to save her daughter after her husband’s mysterious death, accompanied by a strong supporting cast including Ronit Roy, Indraneil Sengupta, and Kherin Sharma timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6hindustantimes.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
Box Office Collections: Detailed Breakdown
Opening Day (June 27, 2025) – India Net: ₹4–4.5 Crore
- Sacnilk reports ₹4.50 Cr timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6sacnilk.com+6filmibeat.com+6.
- Hindustan Times and Times of India reported ₹4.15 Cr and ₹4 Cr respectively addatoday.com+1addatoday.com+1.
- Addatoday estimates ₹4.25 Cr addatoday.com+1addatoday.com+1.
- Estimates surged up to ₹6–8 Cr during advance tracking filmibeat.com+10filmibeat.com+10timesofindia.indiatimes.com+10.
Occupancy Metrics (Hindi, Day 1)
- Overall Hindi occupancy at ~20.52% bollymoviereviewz.com+3sacnilk.com+3hindustantimes.com+3.
- Show-wise breakdown: Morning (8–10%), Afternoon (~20%), Evening (~21%), Night (~32%) sacnilk.com.
- Key metros hovered around 20–30% with highest in Chennai at 31% .
Worldwide Numbers
- Official global collections aren’t out yet, but early India-only figures dominate discussions.
- OTT rights confirmed by Netflix, hinting at further revenue timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Critical Reception & Reviews
Performance & Technical Merits
- Kajol’s portrayal of a protective mother has won praise for its intensity and emotional depth timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6bollymoviereviewz.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6.
- Visual effects and horror elements have received appreciation for atmosphere and design timesofindia.indiatimes.com+8bollymoviereviewz.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
Criticisms & Narratives
- Mixed reviews on storytelling: praised for rituals and maternal themes, but critiqued for pacing flaws and lack of depth addatoday.com.
- Direction deemed uneven, with a gripping climax but sluggish middle stretch .
Selected Ratings:
- Filme Shilmy: ★★★★, “rich and immersive” en.wikipedia.org
- Bollywood Hungama: ★★★, positives on cast, critiques on VFX & script timesofindia.indiatimes.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7economictimes.indiatimes.com+7
- Hindustan Times: 2.5/5, “potential buried under conventional plotting” hindustantimes.com+1addatoday.com+1
- Koimoi: Durable performance from Kajol, but “dim & routine” overall timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2koimoi.com+2koimoi.com+2
Market Position & Competition
- Maa premiered alongside heavyweights like Sitaare Zameen Par, F1: The Movie, and Kannappa bollymoviereviewz.com+13filmibeat.com+13timesofindia.indiatimes.com+13.
- Despite modest earnings, its female-led premise and niche genre helped Mih out productivity.
- Being part of Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan universe enhances brand association indiatimes.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1koimoi.com+3filmibeat.com+3filmibeat.com+3.
Weekend & Beyond: Roadmap Ahead
- Weekend performance will determine if Maa can break even. A weekend total of ₹12–15 Cr could presume success against its ₹55–60 Cr budget timesofindia.indiatimes.com+14filmibeat.com+14filmibeat.com+14.
- Word-of-mouth, especially regarding suspense and Kajol’s acting, will be pivotal.
- Netflix premiere post-theatrical run expected to amplify earnings filmibeat.com.
Final Verdict
Maa marks a bold comeback for Kajol in the horror-mythology domain. Opening at an estimated ₹4–4.5 Cr in India, the film has attracted mixed yet spirited responses. Its alignment with the successful Shaitaan franchise and upcoming digital release keeps anticipation alive. If it sustains momentum and capitalizes on audience praise during the weekend, Maa could emerge as a noteworthy mid-tier success for 2025.
