Ma Behen - Be-witching

Ma Behen

Hindi, 2026

Genre: dark comedy 

Director: Suresh Triveni

Stars: Madhuri Dixit, Tripti Dimri, Dharna Durga, Ravi Kishan, Arunoday Singh

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

The notion of women having supernatural powers that can both lure and destroy men is as old as time. What else could explain the body of Mr. Gupta, the local community leader, lying on the floor of Ms. Rekha's home one stormy night? 

While this otherwise would be a setup for a great mystery, Ma Behen stays in the track of a dark comedy offering a look at the judgements that are passed by patriarchal societies. Borrowing from Bhamakalapam and Darlings, the movie tells how Ms. Rekha and her two daughters  deal with nosy neighbors and inquiring police, and reveal hidden truths about themselves to each other in the process. 

What we learn is often augmented by the corny appearance of a narrator who gives insights on the sorted pasts of three women, who apparently have been labeled as home wreckers, floozies, perhaps even practitioners of dark magic. One can only wonder at why and how such a reputation has not faded away with the years, and if it hasn't, why haven't they moved elsewhere. 

The years, her return to Bollywood  perhaps reason for making Ms. Dixit the focus of the camera and the need for creating this ''Susan Sarandon like'' reputation to her character. I find it unbecoming, and so too, it would seem, Netflix India. Because just as dramatic as the buildup is, the long winded explanation to exonerate these women of anything inappropriate  brings a crashing halt to the plot and leads to a somewhat contrived conclusion. Suddenly, it's all the fault of the men,  as it should be.