‘Maa’ Box Office Collection Day 1: Kajol’s Mythological Horror Thriller Opens at ₹4.15 Crore

Kajol’s return to the big screen after three years with Maa has sparked interest among fans, especially with the actor exploring the horror genre for the first time. Directed by Vishal Furia, the mythological horror thriller released in theatres on Friday and has had a decent opening at the box office.

According to early estimates reported by Sacnilk, Maa earned ₹4.15 crore on its first day. The film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 16.49% on Friday. Morning shows saw 8.23% occupancy, which increased to 20.08% in the afternoon and further rose to 21.16% in the evening, showing a positive trend in audience turnout.

The film sees Kajol portraying Ambika, a fierce and determined mother who goes to unimaginable lengths to protect her daughter from sinister forces. Maa also features Indraneil Sengupta, Jitin Gulati, and Kherin Sharma in pivotal roles. It is backed by producers Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Subbarayan.

Critics have given the film mixed reviews. One excerpt from the Hindustan Times review notes, “There's social commentary buried somewhere in the ritualistic blood, VFX smoke and characters speaking Bengali deliberately in such a heavy accent as though their life depended upon it—coupled with a feminist undertone. It barely lands. The intent is in place though: the idea of a desperate mother becoming Maa in the climax is executed well, and is frankly the only part where you are hooked. Now if only the entire film had such elevation points.”

With its unique mix of mythology and horror, Maa has managed to capture the curiosity of moviegoers. The coming weekend will be crucial in determining the film's long-term box office trajectory.