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Maya official poster

Maya(2015)

6.7/10
Tamil140 mins

Maya is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir horror film written and directed by Ashwin Saravanan. The film stars Nayanthara in her 50th film, alongside Aari Arujunan, Lakshmi Priya, and Amzath Khan. The story follows Apsara, a single mother who accepts a challenge to watch a horror film alone in a theater for a cash prize. She is pulled into the film's narrative, which revolves around a haunted forest and a vengeful spirit named Maya. The film is noted for its non-linear storytelling, atmospheric tension, and strong performance by Nayanthara. It was praised by critics as one of the best Tamil horror films and won several awards including Best Actress for Nayanthara. Maya was released worldwide on 17 September 2015.

Filmed In:Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Mood:
darksuspensefuldisturbing
Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
Sun NXT, ZEE5
Theatrical Release
17 September 2015
Director
Ashwin Saravanan
Language
Tamil
Runtime
2h 20m
Rating
6.7/10

Storyline

Apsara is a single mother drowning in debt. She takes a dangerous challenge: watch a horror film alone at night for a five lakh rupee prize. As the film plays, she is pulled into its story about a haunted forest and a ghost named Maya. She must survive the spirit and uncover a dark secret about her own past.

Some secrets never stay buried.

Film Details

6.7Rating
140Minutes
TamilLanguage
UACertificate
Release Date17 September 2015
Also Known AsMayuri · Maaya
Filmed InChennai, Tamil Nadu

Parental Guide

Violence
High
Language
Moderate
Sex / Nudity
Moderate
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
High

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
darksuspensefuldisturbing
Themes
survivalidentityfamilycorruption
Toneintense
Pacingslow-burn
Complexityrequires-attention
Audienceniche
Best Withwith-partner
Violence3
Emotion4
Humor1
Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Maya

Cast reunions in this film: Nayantara & Karunas (3 films together), Nayantara & Robo Shankar (3 films together), Karunas & Robo Shankar (2 films together), Udayabanu Maheshwaran & Robo Shankar (2 films together), Robo Shankar & Mime Gopi (2 films together), and Ron Ethan Yohaan & Ashwin Saravanan (2 films together).

Trivia

  • The film was shot in just 18 days, a very short schedule for a feature film.
  • Director Ashwin Saravanan used a real abandoned mental asylum in Chennai for key scenes.
  • The movie's sound design was praised for creating fear without loud jump scares.
  • Actress Nayanthara performed her own stunts for the theatre sequence.
  • The film's title 'Maya' can mean both 'illusion' and a female name in Tamil.
  • It was one of the first Tamil horror films to use a nonlinear storytelling style.
  • The movie was made on a low budget but became a profitable sleeper hit.

Frequently Asked Questions

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