Maa Behen

"Maa Behen, bearing a title which cheekily wants to subvert that familiar invective prevalent in much of North India, in whose fictional town this film is set, gets lost in flabby, confused writing. So many ideas jostling for space, but so few landing: hard to believe that this comes from the director of Tumhari Sullu and Jalsa. Sadly, Maa Behen is not that film."

"The film is quirky, fun, immersive, and hugely entertaining. On the whole, this Netflix and Abundantia Entertainment film is worth every bit of your time. It is absolutely a hysterical entertainer."

"While the intent is admirable and the performances are uniformly strong, the screenplay often struggles to match the potential of its ideas. The film is at its strongest when it focuses on these three women and the evolving bond between them. Unfortunately, the screenplay does not always capitalise on the promise of its premise."

"An entertaining crime-comedy that never turns into a pity party, Maa Behen has no interest in reforming society's self-appointed moral guardians. Instead, it offers women a far simpler solution: why care? Director Suresh Triveni uses humour layered with tragedy to hold up a mirror to a society that views women simply existing on their own with suspicion."

"A curate's egg of a film: good in parts and its intention to entertain, but not so solid in execution. Full marks to Triptii Dimri, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Madhuri Dixit, and Dharna Durga for their scintillating performances, though some parts are incoherent and uneven, and even seem forced."

"Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri smash the patriarchy in Netflix's quirky dramedy with style and swagger."

"Three women and a body in the house. On paper, Maa Behen sounds like a recipe tailor-made for outrageous fun. But the film is far from being just another comic thriller, and that's where it earns a few brownie points."

"A deliciously chaotic dramedy that gets its women just right. The dramedy uses gossip, crime and family friction to show how society misreads women."

"Madhuri's mix of silly, starry-eyed, sly and sentimental doesn't miss a single beat. A flawless Triptii Dimri steals the show in a role, finally worthy of her talent, in a slow burn account of a volcano on the verge of explosion."

"'Maa Behen,' a rather derogatory slur used for generations as an abuse, now gets a comedic yet dark twist with Suresh Triveni's latest film. The three unapologetic women come together to hide a tragedy only to unfold layers of their characters and a variety of twists."

"Unlike Tumhari Sulu, Triveni struggles when he tries to do three things at once: deliver a sharp critique of the idealised Indian mother while also creating the quiet dread of a mystery and loud, rip-roaring comedic moments. The structural tug-of-war doesn't just subvert tropes; it points out that it is doing so. This self-awareness disrupts the story's reality."