Friday, October 07, 2022

Film Review: Maja Ma (Hindi)

#MajaMa on Prime Video 


Even if you are pursuing a PhD on the subject, you never know what its like until you have to deal with it personally. 

There is a lot of nuance in this film. A lot of attention to detail. The costumes. The art direction. The hair and makeup. The music. I can't remember the last time such lovely lyrics made their way to the screen in the background while the story played out in the foreground. So much attention to tiny details. 

The way the story has been structured - two children - one pushing her towards "owning her truth", the other urging her to tell everyone that it's all a lie. And how she stands tall above both - owning her truth in her own way, at her own pace, with each stakeholder one by one. It's a slow process - the coming out. The movie takes us through that process as it is likely to really happen. Every character is human. Real. Relatable. Every episode is real and relatable. 


The performances are adorable. Every one of them. They own their characters - some written better than others, and deliver them. 


My favourite two episodes - Kanchan confronting Pam, and then Pam confronting Bob. Tejas is delightful and fresh. Very believable. Right down to his "I have always made you agree to my demands" stint. 


The only character I had trouble accepting is Tara. That character, imho, needed more work at the writer's desk. 


And finally: 

1. Accent sirf American nahi hota, Gujarati bhi hota hai. Its not easy to say "This is your house also now" like a Gujju, if you are not one. Full marks to Gajraj Rao for acing this one. 

2. Madhuri Dixit is a DIVA. She can make mommy roles so full of substance - whether it is Bucket List or The Fame Game, she brings a powerful mother alive on screen, looking effortlessly glamorous while at it. 


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