Can you truly ruin a perfectly interesting ensemble and the kernel of an idea that could have blown up into a fully feminist fun film? ‘Maa Behen’ answers that question with a resounding yes. Despite a cheeky title and a talented cast, this Netflix film gets lost in flabby, confused writing .
Madhuri Dixit plays Rekha, a widow who has been branded a “daayan” by her judgmental neighbours in a small Bihar town. Her crime? She wears sleeveless blouses. When the lecherous neighbour, Gupta ji (Ravi Kishan), ends up dead in her living room, Rekha calls her two wildly different daughters: the long-suffering housewife Jaya (Tripti Dimri) and the Gen-Z influencer Sushma (Dharna Durga) .
The premise is ripe for a pulpy, Manohar Kahaniya-style comedy. The opening act, told through the lens of a sensationalist “crime show,” cleverly shows how society objectifies and villanizes these women . However, once the novelty of the premise wears off, the narrative grinds to a halt.
Performances stuck in a flabby script
The film’s biggest tragedy is how it wastes its cast. Madhuri Dixit tries her best, but her Rekha is reduced to a type rather than a fully realized character. The very beauty that defined her career is used as a plot device here, but the script never explores it with any depth .
Tripti Dimri delivers a fine performance, especially during a well-written monologue where she lashes out at her useless husband (Shardul Bhardwaj). In that moment, you see the crackling potential of the film . Debutant Dharna Durga is appropriately irritating as the “Reels paglu” sister, but like the others, she plays a stereotype rather than a character.
Geetanjali Kulkarni as the neighbour’s suspicious wife is a delight to watch, while Arunoday Singh hams it up as a dim-witted cop. They provide fleeting moments of relief, but even they cannot salvage the sinking ship.
A great idea lost in execution
What is most frustrating is that the film knows what it wants to say. It criticizes the patriarchal gaze; it mocks the absurdity of “log kya kahenge.” There is a scene where the sisters bicker over who should use which cloth to hide the body because one is a “wedding gift”—it’s a quirky, realistic touch . But these moments are drowned out by artificial tones and a pace that is painfully slow .
The climax, when it finally arrives, feels convenient and unearned . By the end, you aren’t laughing at the chaos or rooting for the women; you are just exhausted.
Verdict: ‘Maa Behen’ is a bumpy and chaotic ride. It has a lot of “killer ideas” but lacks the sharp writing needed to tie them together . It serves as a reminder that a great cast can only do so much. While the leads give it their all, the film around them is simply not worth the watch.
