A Nightmarish Tale: Maya Unveiled
The initial premise of Maya sets the stage for a chilling narrative as famous actress Neha Dey and her husband Sameer find themselves in a state of terror when their young daughter Shona exhibits alarming violence on her birthday. From this point onward, the film unfolds into a harrowing saga of horror, deceit, and murder.
A Disappointing Descent into Cliché
Maya falls into the realm of horror films that fail to captivate, instead prompting audiences to flee the theatre in search of respite from the looming specter of boredom. Unfortunately, the film's descent into cliché is exacerbated by lackluster direction, with director Raj Kumar Behl seemingly content to merely scratch the surface of character depth. This results in lackluster performances from much of the cast, although notable exceptions include Sayantani as TV journalist Rhea Sen and Abir Goswami as ACP Ayan Biswas. Child actress Suhina Roy as Shona and death row convict Shekhar Bose portrayed by Bharat Kaul also manage to shine in select sequences. However, the chemistry between Neha and her husband feels forced and detached, detracting from the overall immersion.
Musical Missteps and Narrative Shortcomings
The film's musical accompaniment fails to leave a lasting impression, with one particularly dated sequence featuring convict Shekhar singing a tragic melody evoking a bygone era. While intended to evoke emotion, this moment instead serves as a jarring reminder of the film's shortcomings. Furthermore, the storyline suffers from a lack of originality, as the director's apparent fixation on replicating television horror tropes detracts from the potential for a more compelling narrative.
A Forgettable Experience
In summary, Maya proves to be an experience best left forgotten. While viewers may find themselves drawn to the film out of necessity rather than choice, it ultimately fails to deliver on its promise of captivating horror.
5.0