Dear Maa

Dear Maa meditates on motherhood beyond biology. When twelve-year-old Sohini abandons her adopted life to search for her birth mother, Brinda must confront her own demons of identity and belonging. The script co-written by Aniruddha and novelist Sakyajit Bhattacharya feels lived-in, drawing from emotional realities instead of dramatized fiction . Jaya Ahsan carries every scene with quiet strength, especially as she navigates the legal and emotional friction of adoption. The film avoids clichés-even when the narrative becomes contemplative, the visuals and pacing maintain intimacy. It feels like real life, messy and earnest.

The visuals are stunning and the feel very cinematic This film quietly holds you in its emotional gravity, Jaya Ahsan delivers a restrained performance throughout, her grief restrained yet palpable whenever she searches police stations or questions passersby, themes of trust and custody weave through the narrative, exploring whether true parental bonds are chosen or enforced, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury channels warmth and sadness through scenes where Brinda must confront her daughter's wish to leave, cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay frames monsoon-lit roads and interior silences with equal care, supporting actors such as Anubha Fatehpuria and Dhritiman Chatterjee add human texture without glamor, the film's length gives it room to breathe and build emotional stakes rather than lean on shock.

The complexities of human relationships, especially motherhood are captured really well.

Dear Maa examines motherhood through lenses of loss and release-not in a preachy way but through raw emotion, Brinda's journey is a test of whether love can survive abandonment, Jaya Ahsan portrays this complexity through mid-day exhaustion and tear-streaked determination rather than speeches, the child actor shines too, Sohini's eyes carry conflict when she refuses her adoptive mother, the music by Bickram Ghosh underscores emotional swings with restraint, supporting cast threads like legal procedures and social assumptions enrich the emotional core, Aniruddha's directorial choices emphasize emotional arcs over plot mechanics, by the end you feel as if you've witnessed a rupture that both breaks and rebuilds familial bonds.

A lovely film that is all heart and feels.

After watching Dear Maa, I felt like I'd lived Brinda Mitra's pain alongside her. Jaya Ahsan powerfully portrays a mother who refuses to give up, even when her adopted daughter Sohini goes missing. The disappearance isn't just a mystery, it's an emotional rupture that highlights themes of belonging, family, and maternal courage. With Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's sensitive direction, the film explores adoption not as a label but a bond formed through sacrifice and trust. The urban Kolkata backdrop, the slow-building tension, and the performances from the supporting cast, including Chandan Roy Sanyal and Saswata Chatterjee, make this drama both compelling and intimate. Every searching glance and vulnerable silence builds toward a story about releasing control as much as holding on. A quietly powerful watch.

Poignant. Heartfelt. A good watch Dear Maa doesn't shy away from messy emotions. As Sohini's absence stretches into unknown territory, the adoptive mother navigates bureaucracy, blame, and emotional collapse. Jaya Ahsan anchors the film-her portrayal never sanctifies Brinda, it honors her humanity. The screenplay feels rooted in depth, showing adoption from multiple angles-between mothers, institutions, and personal trauma-rather than a single narrative track . The cast beyond Jaya-Saswata, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Shayan Munshi-fills the canvas with realism. Overall, the film shows that love doesn't guarantee belonging, but it does demand courage-and that tension makes Dear Maa memorable.