Dear Maya Movie Review

Dear Maya is directed by Sunaina Bhatnagar and stars Manisha Koirala, Madiha Imam & Shreya Chaudhary in the lead roles.

The film follows the life of a middle aged lonely woman, Maya Devi (Manisha Koirala) from Shimla. Maya stays alone in a huge bungalow with her two dogs and cages full of birds. She has given up on life and looks at the world through a gloomy lens, distrusting and sad. Maya is noticed by her 16 year old neighbour, Ana (Madiha Imam) and her friend Ira, played by Shreya Chaudhary.

Anna and Ira prank a Maya Devi by writing her letters from a secret admirer. The prank takes a more serious turn when the Maya goes missing. She embarks on a journey to find the person behind a series of love letters addressed to her.

There are several interesting moments in the film especially when it shows Maya rediscovering life through the letters, and later through the city. Though Maya lends an air of mysticism to the initial portions of the film, it's when she rediscovers life is where Manisha shines the best.  Dear Maya is actually about the two girls re-evaluating their friendship through the repercussions of their prank on an unsuspecting victim.

Dear Maya may have an interesting story to tell, but the pace of the narrative is cumbersome and yawn-inducing, and will put you off the movie at several places. Though underutilized, Manisha Koirala delivers a fine nuanced performance and deserved more screen time then she has been given in the film. Watch it only for Manisha Koirala's brilliant performance.