Mamta: A Slow Burn That Doesn't Always Light Up

Is this for you?

If you like your movies with a bit of grit and don’t mind when the pace slows down to a crawl, you might actually dig this. But if you need constant movement or modern editing, you’re going to be checking your phone every ten minutes. It’s definitely a film for people who want to see Devika Rani carry a story entirely on her own shoulders.

Honestly, the movie feels a bit like a dusty photo album you found in an attic. It’s beautiful in spots, but you have to squint to see what’s going on sometimes. There’s a specific sequence midway through that goes on for way too long. The silence in the room actually became kind of distracting, which I don’t think was the intention.

The Quiet Stuff

Rani is doing so much work with just her eyes in the early scenes. It makes you realize how loud modern acting has become. She holds a gaze for about three seconds too long, and it just… works. It feels like she’s remembering a real secret while the camera is rolling. That’s rare.

I couldn’t help but think about Our Dancing Daughters while watching this. Both films have this weird, heavy atmosphere where the characters seem trapped by their own choices, but Mamta feels more like a cage. There is no party scene here to break the tension.

• The lighting is surprisingly moody in the kitchen scenes.
• The dialogue feels a bit stilted, like it was written for a stage play first.
• One reaction shot lingers long enough that I started wondering if the projector had jammed.

The movie gets noticeably better when it stops trying to explain why people are sad. When the characters just sit there, breathing and failing, it hits much harder. There’s a scene involving a letter that feels like it takes an hour to finish, yet I couldn't look away. Why? Maybe it’s just the way the light catches the paper. 🕯️

It’s not perfect. The middle section just sort of sags under its own importance. You can feel the film trying to convince you that every single frame is a masterpiece of emotion, and that’s when it gets a little annoying. Sometimes, less is more, right? You don't need a sweeping score to tell me that a mother is heartbroken.

Still, for what it is, it’s a solid watch if you're in a quiet, reflective mood. It won’t change your life, but it might make you sit in the dark for a minute after the credits roll. Just don't expect a fast ride. It’s more of a long, dusty walk uphill. 🎞️