‘Maa Behen’: When Witches Stop Behaving

In Maa Behen, you can never quite predict the next sentence coming out of anyone’s mouth. For Hindi cinema, which has, in recent years, chased tired formula after formula, that’s a happy change. Then, add some magical realism, and you’ll meet widower Rekha (the impeccable Madhuri Dixit), who buries men beneath her garden of marigolds, has backwards feet, and leaves men in her cyber cafe to die. Well, at least that’s what the rumors say. 

The latest kaand, or “incident,” happens when Rekha calls her two daughters, Jaya (Triptii Dimri) and Sushma (Dharna Durga), to tell them that her neighbor Guptaji (Ravi Kishan) has died in her house. But not all is as it seems. What happens when three outspoken women reckon with a society that already thinks they’re guilty, murder be damned? We spoke to director and co-writer Suresh Triveni and Madhuri Dixit to chat about their latest, “delicious” project.