Maa Behen review: This thriller-comedy with Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri and Dhaarna isn’t what it seems, and that works

MAa BehenCast: Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dhaarna, Ravi KisanDirector: suresh TriveniRating: 3 starsThree women and a personify in the put up. On paper, Maa Behen sounds the likes of a formula tailor-made for outrageous play. But the film is far from being just another comic thriller, and that’s where it earns a few brownie points.Also read: Peddi reviewThe plot of Maa BehenSuresh Triveni, who previously directed Tumhari Sulu, returns with another quirky premise. Rekha (Madhuri Dixit), a single mother, calls her two daughters, Jaya and Sushma, in the middle of the night with alarming news: their neighbour Gupta (Ravi Kishan) is lying dead on the floor of their house. What follows is a frantic attempt by the trio to figure out what to do next. The world-building is one of the film’s strengths. Triveni understands the nuances of his characters and their surroundings. For instance, something as simple as Rekha wearing sleeveless blouses in a small town becomes a talking point, subtly revealing the social dynamics at play.“Everything isn’t as it seems” is a phrase usually reserved for stories populated by morally conflicted characters and shades of grey. In Maa Behen, however, it works in the opposite direction. As the layers peel away, the film reveals uncomfortable truths not about hidden villainy, but about the assumptions and labels society is quick to impose. What initially appears to be a chaotic drama gradually acquires surprising emotional weight, making the narrative far more hard-hitting. The climax is nothing to write home about. Yet, the film finds its strength elsewhere. An actor as charming as Madhuri Dixit seamlessly into Rekha’s world. Ironically, the very beauty that has been celebrated for decades in real life becomes a burden for her character, something that invites gossip in a small-town setting. It’s a clever touch, and one that feeds directly into the film’s most effective turn toewards the end, lending the story an emotional resonance that lingers beyond the laughs.Apart from Madhuri, Triptii Dimri delivers a fine performance, not missing a single beat as a woman keeping it all in for long, until she can’t. Dhaarna Durga too holds her own in front of seasoned performers. One of the most effective scenes in the film arrives when these three are just talking to each other when these three let their guards down and actually talk to each other.The music by Akashdeep Sengupta compliments the story.Final verdictOverall, for a film that begins with a dead body in the living room, Maa Behen is less interested in murder and mayhem than in the lives of the women forced to deal with both. The warmth of it's performances and the sincerity of it's observations make it worth a watch. If a sequel means spending more time with these three women, consider me interested.