Kajol’s return to the big screen with a horror film titled Maa, directed by Vishal Furia, has generated mixed reactions at the box office. While the film managed to draw some attention with a decent opening, its momentum hasn’t quite picked up as expected. Despite Kajol’s powerful screen presence and a genre that often finds favor with niche audiences, Maa is witnessing only minimal growth heading into the weekend.
A Lukewarm Opening at the Box Office
Maa opened with ₹4.93 crore on its first day, a modest figure that hinted at some interest among viewers but fell short of a strong debut. Compared to other releases in the same window — particularly Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par — Maa appears to be trailing in terms of audience draw and ticket sales.
Despite the horror tag and Kajol’s return in a lead role, the film hasn’t yet managed to build significant word-of-mouth momentum or critical buzz, both of which are key drivers for weekend growth in today’s theatrical landscape.
Day 2 Shows Marginal Growth
On its second day (Saturday), Maa saw only a slight bump in performance. According to BookMyShow data, ticket sales rose from 29,000 on Friday to 32,300 by 3 PM on Saturday — an 11% increase. While this signals some weekend interest, it falls short of the jump most films aim for to secure a strong Sunday and ensure a successful opening weekend.
Occupancy in morning shows also saw a small uptick, increasing from 8.2% on Friday to 9.94% on Saturday. However, with such slim margins, the film’s evening and night shows will be crucial in determining whether it can claw its way into stronger weekend territory.
How Does Maa Compare to Kajol’s Previous Films?
When it comes to comparisons, Maa has already outperformed Kajol’s last theatrical release, Salaam Venky, which managed a total lifetime collection of just ₹2.42 crore. Salaam Venky, released in 2022 and directed by Revathi, had a limited release and minimal marketing, making its performance understandable.
However, Kajol hasn’t had a solid solo hit at the box office in quite some time. Her last major commercial success was Dilwale in 2015, where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan under Rohit Shetty’s direction. Even Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, a massive hit in 2020, saw her in a supporting role, while the film’s success was largely credited to Ajay Devgn’s lead performance and its patriotic narrative.
Horror Genre and the Kajol Factor
Horror as a genre in Indian cinema has seen a resurgence in recent years, but it still largely depends on fresh storytelling, high production value, and strong performances. While Kajol delivers in terms of acting, Maa may not have offered enough in terms of novelty or scare factor to excite audiences during its opening weekend.
Nevertheless, Kajol’s fans have shown up, and with the right traction on Sunday, the film could still see a respectable first-weekend total. The film’s fate will now hinge on how it performs on Sunday, which is often a crucial day for families and late-weekend watchers to hit theaters.
Can Maa Turn It Around?
While Maa hasn’t opened with fireworks, all is not lost. With a steady (if slow) upward trend in occupancy and ticket sales, the film still has a chance to hold its ground, particularly if evening shows perform well and Sunday brings in stronger footfall. However, without a significant jump or strong audience endorsements, its box office journey could remain lukewarm.
Kajol’s attempt to break into the horror genre with Maa deserves credit for experimentation, but the film will need more than star power to truly shine at the box office. All eyes are now on Sunday’s numbers — the deciding day that could either secure a decent first-weekend total or mark Maa as another underwhelming theatrical outing in Kajol’s recent filmography.
Note: All box office figures are estimates based on industry sources and have not been independently verified.
