Maa Behen review: Madhuri Dixit leads a delightfully chaotic dark comedy

Director: Suresh Triveni
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durga, Ravi Kishan, Arunoday Singh, Geetanjali Kulkarni
Platform: Netflix
Runtime: 1 hour 14 minutes
Genre: Dark comedy, crime drama

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Plot

Maa Behen revolves around three women, Rekha, Jaya, and Sushma, whose already complicated family dynamics spiral into complete chaos after an unexpected incident. Rekha (Madhuri Dixit), a fiercely independent woman who has spent her life challenging societal expectations, discovers the body of her neighbour Gupta Ji (Ravi Kishan) in her kitchen. With nowhere else to turn, she calls her estranged daughters, Jaya (Triptii Dimri) and Sushma (Dharna Durga), to help her deal with the situation.

What begins as a frantic attempt to clean up a crime scene soon transforms into a layered story about family, societal judgment, and the way women are often perceived through the lens of patriarchal expectations. The film steadily unfolds its secrets while balancing tension with humour, ensuring that the mystery remains engaging throughout.

Review

At first glance, Maa Behen appears to be a straightforward dark comedy built around a bizarre crime and the chaos that follows. However, the film gradually reveals itself to be much more than that. Beneath the humour lies a surprisingly thoughtful commentary on how women are judged, labelled, and often misunderstood by society.

The strongest aspect of the film is its writing. The humour rarely comes from punchlines alone; instead, it emerges organically through the characters’ reactions to increasingly absurd situations. Even during tense moments, the screenplay manages to keep the atmosphere light without resorting to cheap jokes or insensitive humour.

The narrative cleverly presents two parallel perspectives. In the first half, the audience is introduced to the women through the societal gaze that surrounds them. As the story progresses, that perception is challenged, revealing how women are frequently defined by assumptions rather than their actual experiences and emotions. This thematic shift gives the film a deeper resonance beyond its crime-comedy premise.

Director Suresh Triveni, known for acclaimed films such as Tumhari Sulu and Jalsa, handles the material with confidence. While the film never becomes overly preachy, it succeeds in raising important questions about gender roles, accountability, and societal conditioning.

A particularly noteworthy element is the way the film addresses blame and responsibility. Without revealing major spoilers, a key sequence involving Paresh Rawal delivers one of the film’s sharpest observations about how women are often held accountable for circumstances beyond their control, while men frequently escape scrutiny.

Performances

The film belongs to its women.

Madhuri Dixit delivers one of her most refreshing performances in recent years. As Rekha, she portrays a woman who refuses to be confined by societal expectations, bringing warmth, humour, vulnerability, and defiance to the role. More importantly, she continues to experiment with characters that move beyond the conventional image audiences have long associated with her.

Triptii Dimri shines as Jaya, proving yet again that her abilities extend far beyond the glamorous roles often offered to her. She brings emotional depth to a character struggling with her relationship with her mother while navigating an increasingly chaotic situation.

Dharna Durga emerges as one of the film’s biggest surprises. Her performance feels effortless and natural, even though comedic timing of this kind is far from easy to execute. She consistently lands her moments and adds significant energy to the narrative.

Arunoday Singh contributes a gentle, endearing presence that helps balance the film’s tension, while Geetanjali Kulkarni and Rama Sharma (as Goldie) make meaningful additions to the family dynamic. Ravi Kishan, despite his importance to the plot, feels somewhat underutilised and functions more as a narrative catalyst than a fully developed character.

What works

• Strong female-led performances across the board.
• A unique blend of dark comedy and social commentary.
• Humour driven by situations and character reactions rather than forced jokes.
• Madhuri Dixit’s refreshing and unconventional portrayal of Rekha.
• Thoughtful observations about societal judgment and gender expectations.
• A runtime that makes the film an easy watch after a hectic day.

What doesn’t work

• The timeline occasionally feels confusing and may test the patience of some viewers.
• Certain sequences could have been trimmed further in the edit to create a tighter narrative.
• The film’s deliberately dramatic tone may not appeal to all audiences.
• A few supporting characters feel underdeveloped despite their narrative importance.

Chaos, comedy and commentary  

Maa Behen may not be a mass-market entertainer, but it succeeds as a quirky, character-driven dark comedy with a meaningful emotional core. While the film occasionally struggles with pacing and narrative clarity, its strengths far outweigh its flaws.

Powered by a terrific performance from Madhuri Dixit and strong support from Triptii Dimri and Dharna Durga, the film offers laughs, surprises, and thoughtful commentary on the realities women continue to face. It is the kind of unconventional, niche film that may not work for everyone, but for those willing to embrace its eccentricities, Maa Behen is a rewarding watch.

Rating: 3/5 Stars ☆☆